The first locking pliers, named Vise-Grips, were invented by William Petersen in De Witt, Nebraska in 1924. Mole grips were developed by Thomas Coughtrie in 1955, then managing director of M. K. Mole and Son.
Sorry that's incorrect. Mole grips,were invented in 1843 by Ebeneezer Pffefersmidge-Brighton when, after using the normal Aligator skin gloves failed to protect him from a bite whilst mole,catching on the Rutland estate of the then Lord Bygone-Era.
"Mole Grips were manufactured in Newport South Wales, just off the M4 by the Brynglas Tunnels, travelling west the Mole sign was visible immediately before entering the tunnel"
The sign is gone now, but it was there for years !
Ah well, there's another interesting story....
They were manufactured in Louisiana by the Aldus Wrench company following a request from the Texas State Zoo owner Robert 'Rhesus' Johnson when one of their monkeys escaped and became stuck down a Texaco oil well.