Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Before the Worker and the Sharpmaker there was the Portable hand!
The Portable Hand!!! I can’t even begin to explain to you how friggin excited I am to receive this in the mail! To say I was stressing while this was in transit is a major understatement. I might have just drove 35 minutes home from work to grab this package off the porch, take a picture and then drive 35 minutes back to work. :) The person I got it from was clearing out an old clock shop and came across it. Said that it was used to hold the small parts of the clocks after they would clean them. The story that follows most of you know but I figured I’d add it for anyone that doesn’t!
Spyderco's history began in 1976 in Redding, California, when Sal invented the Portable Hand. This was a tool designed to hold small objects securely in place, which frees up a hand and aids in intricate tasks. The Portable Hand was a practical solution for people working on electronical components and many other uses, both in industry and at home. At the same time, Sal had an avid interest in high performance sports cars. He noticed that many car manufacturers in the 1970s used the term 'spider/spyder' or 'spydercars' to name their high-end sports cars. The Portable Hand's spider-like looks and the naming of high performance sports-cars, inspired Sal to name his company Spyderco.
(Sal)
The "Portable Hand" was an "invention pilot" that Gail and I wanted to go through. The project was; to invent an funtional tool, patent it, design it, build it ourselves, market and sell the product. We welded up the parts while on the road on campground benches and motel rooms. We sold them mail order and at shows. Our 2nd invention, the Sharpmaker, overpowered the portable hand and we didn't have enough time to do both, so we disco'd the portable hand.
I snagged this information from my good friends over at Spydiewiki and Sal himself off the forum.
Thanks, Rich
The Portable Hand!!! I can’t even begin to explain to you how friggin excited I am to receive this in the mail! To say I was stressing while this was in transit is a major understatement. I might have just drove 35 minutes home from work to grab this package off the porch, take a picture and then drive 35 minutes back to work. :) The person I got it from was clearing out an old clock shop and came across it. Said that it was used to hold the small parts of the clocks after they would clean them. The story that follows most of you know but I figured I’d add it for anyone that doesn’t!
Spyderco's history began in 1976 in Redding, California, when Sal invented the Portable Hand. This was a tool designed to hold small objects securely in place, which frees up a hand and aids in intricate tasks. The Portable Hand was a practical solution for people working on electronical components and many other uses, both in industry and at home. At the same time, Sal had an avid interest in high performance sports cars. He noticed that many car manufacturers in the 1970s used the term 'spider/spyder' or 'spydercars' to name their high-end sports cars. The Portable Hand's spider-like looks and the naming of high performance sports-cars, inspired Sal to name his company Spyderco.
(Sal)
The "Portable Hand" was an "invention pilot" that Gail and I wanted to go through. The project was; to invent an funtional tool, patent it, design it, build it ourselves, market and sell the product. We welded up the parts while on the road on campground benches and motel rooms. We sold them mail order and at shows. Our 2nd invention, the Sharpmaker, overpowered the portable hand and we didn't have enough time to do both, so we disco'd the portable hand.
I snagged this information from my good friends over at Spydiewiki and Sal himself off the forum.
Thanks, Rich
Think for yourself
- Larry_Mott
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Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Congrats bro magnon!
You're well on your way to become custodian of the unofficial Spyderco museum :)
You're well on your way to become custodian of the unofficial Spyderco museum :)
"Life is fragile - we should take better care of each other, and ourselves - every day!"
//Eva Mott 1941 - 2019. R.I.P.
//Eva Mott 1941 - 2019. R.I.P.
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Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Very cool find Rich!
- Connor
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Interesting contraption.
- DutchBlades
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Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Nice score! Haven't seen one pop up online, so must've been hard to find!
A tiger has claws.
A wolf has teeth.
An eagle has talons.
We, have Spyderco.
Grails: Abalone Mini Mariner, Ti ATR, WTC, Ti Lum Tanto
A wolf has teeth.
An eagle has talons.
We, have Spyderco.
Grails: Abalone Mini Mariner, Ti ATR, WTC, Ti Lum Tanto
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
And following the patent trail leads to another interesting contraption.
What exactly is the significance of a "totem pole necklace?
What exactly is the significance of a "totem pole necklace?
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Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Would’ve “liked” this and said wow to myself, but since we don’t have said button...WOW! Nice find! I’ve never even thought to look for one of these. Color me jelly!
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
My dad was a huge tinkerer and he would've loved a contraption like that! Very cool find.
- Julia
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Very cool, always wanted to see one. Sprint run! What steel to do first... Wonder how long sal has been wearing that necklace
S30V, VG10, M4, XHP, BD1, Cruwear, Elmax, Maxamet, 204P, H1, K390, A11, Rex45, LC200N, M390, 20CV, BD1N, S45VN waiting to afford MagnaCut
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
This is a great find Rich, congrats on scoring one. Such an incredible piece of Spyderco history! Thanks for sharing! :spyder:
- Nick
- Cambertree
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Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
What a great find! It really does look useful.
I tend to use one of those stainless steel trays with powerful magnets underneath it when working with small steel parts, so I don’t lose any, but the Portable Hand is so much better.
I’m guessing that part 33 on the patent diagram is a magnifying screen?
I don’t have any experience with guided sharpening systems, but I wonder if a similar magnifier on a flexible arm would be a useful attachment for those types of setups?
Thanks for sharing this. :)
I tend to use one of those stainless steel trays with powerful magnets underneath it when working with small steel parts, so I don’t lose any, but the Portable Hand is so much better.
I’m guessing that part 33 on the patent diagram is a magnifying screen?
I don’t have any experience with guided sharpening systems, but I wonder if a similar magnifier on a flexible arm would be a useful attachment for those types of setups?
Thanks for sharing this. :)
- curlyhairedboy
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Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
What a nice find!
EDC Rotation: PITS, Damasteel Urban, Shaman, Ikuchi, Amalgam, CruCarta Shaman, Sage 5 LW, Serrated Caribbean Sheepsfoot CQI, XHP Shaman, M4/Micarta Shaman, 15v Shaman
Fixed Blades: Proficient, Magnacut Mule
Special and Sentimental: Southard, Squarehead LW, Ouroboros, Calendar Para 3 LW, 40th Anniversary Native, Ti Native, Calendar Watu, Tanto PM2
Would like to own again: CQI Caribbean Sheepsfoot PE, Watu
Wishlist: Magnacut, Shaman Sprints!
Fixed Blades: Proficient, Magnacut Mule
Special and Sentimental: Southard, Squarehead LW, Ouroboros, Calendar Para 3 LW, 40th Anniversary Native, Ti Native, Calendar Watu, Tanto PM2
Would like to own again: CQI Caribbean Sheepsfoot PE, Watu
Wishlist: Magnacut, Shaman Sprints!
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Thanks for the info on the totem pendant.
For those of you who are longing for the holding fixture and are not concerned with provenance, Harbor Freight has a similar thing for five bucks. I had one for many, many years, and finally threw it out after it was too beat up and corroded from soldering flux, spatter, etc. Go to their site and search for "helping hands."
For those of you who are longing for the holding fixture and are not concerned with provenance, Harbor Freight has a similar thing for five bucks. I had one for many, many years, and finally threw it out after it was too beat up and corroded from soldering flux, spatter, etc. Go to their site and search for "helping hands."
Last edited by RustyIron on Wed May 13, 2020 6:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Hi Rich, Nice find. 35 years old and our first mfg challenge. Thanx for the memories.
FYI, We (Happy Thoughts) make the Totems in Titanium, Jade, Gold, Silver, and a variety of G-10 colors. We're still trying to set up the web site, but things are moving slowly. We also make coffee mugs with the "Happy Brain" walking around the cup.
A work in progress
sal
FYI, We (Happy Thoughts) make the Totems in Titanium, Jade, Gold, Silver, and a variety of G-10 colors. We're still trying to set up the web site, but things are moving slowly. We also make coffee mugs with the "Happy Brain" walking around the cup.
A work in progress
sal
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Maybe for the forum knife, do a sprint run of the portable hand. :P
-Brian
A distinguished lurker.
Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
A distinguished lurker.
Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Huh. I thought it was part of a trainer blade, and it reminds me of a cross section through a turritella fossil:
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Always love the history. Reminds me a fly tying vise, a hobby I attempted but could never master the patience to really embrace.
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
Very cool Rich :cool:
-Matt a.k.a. Lo_Que, loadedquestions135 I ❤ The P'KAL
"The world of edges has a small doorway in, but opens into a cavern that is both wide and deep." -sal
"The world of edges has a small doorway in, but opens into a cavern that is both wide and deep." -sal
"Ghost hunters scope the edge." -sal
Re: Finally!! The Portable Hand!
We watched Big Fish last week.
I had forgotten about the Portable Hand until I saw your post.
I wonder if they got the idea for the Handi-Matic from the Portable Hand...
https://www.spotern.com/en/wanted/movie ... n-big-fish
I had forgotten about the Portable Hand until I saw your post.
I wonder if they got the idea for the Handi-Matic from the Portable Hand...
https://www.spotern.com/en/wanted/movie ... n-big-fish