What's this for?

[Batz]

It can't be a wrench, is it a clamp of some type?

9" long, jaws are 3" WIDE.







I see no markings on it at all.

Batz

[Neals]

My first guess is a hand vise. Second guess is a wrench.

[Batz]

My first guess is a hand vise. Second guess is a wrench.

I'd never heard of a hand vice before, a quick 'google of images' showed many but not one like the thing I have. I suppose a hand vice is now a vice grip?

Batz

[anglesmith]

I've always thought they were an early coach wrench? but then I'm not a real wrench collector! The duplicate other side has always puzzled me.
Graeme

[mikeswrenches]

I've always thought they were an early coach wrench? but then I'm not a real wrench collector! The duplicate other side has always puzzled me.
Graeme

I'm pretty sure you are correct.  I believe it is called a French coach wrench.

Mike

[Branson]

I'm pretty sure you are correct.  I believe it is called a French coach wrench.

Mike

We've had wrenches like this on TT before -- TT is where I first saw them.  French coach wrench is what I'd say, too.

[johnsironsanctuary]

Typical French Engineering logic.  A coach has wheels on each side, so you need ze wrench with ze jaw on each side, no?

[Lewill2]

Or one side to tighten and one side to loosen..........Or you have a built in spare..

[rusty]

>Typical French Engineering logic

The Brits copied them of course.
But they will Never,Ever,Ever admit that ;P

[Batz]

Would any of you guys be able to roughly guess the age of that? Is it collectible at all?

Batz

[Branson]

Would any of you guys be able to roughly guess the age of that? Is it collectible at all?

Batz

Definitely collectable.  There's one on Etsy for $60 right now:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/98040446/rustic-very-old-french-wrench?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_includes[0]=tags&ga_search_query=wrench&ga_view_type=gallery

Another on eBay with a starting bid of $100:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Buggy-Wrench-SIRAP-Double-Ended-Adjustable-Carriage-Shop-Farm-Tool-M-/151042239756?pt=BI_Heavy_Equipment_Parts&hash=item232ad1ad0c

[Bill Houghton]

I'd never heard of a hand vice before, a quick 'google of images' showed many but not one like the thing I have. I suppose a hand vice is now a vice grip?

Batz

No, a hand vise is more subtle.  You can grip stuff without squashing it.  They're quite useful in any trade with small parts that you need to work on.  I have one dedicated to holding the arbor on my replaceable-cutter router bits, when I have to switch bits.

[Branson]

I'd never heard of a hand vice before, a quick 'google of images' showed many but not one like the thing I have. I suppose a hand vice is now a vice grip?

Batz

A search for "hand vise" yields just about everything *except* a hand vise.  But if you search for "jeweler's hand vise" you come up with things like this:

http://www.toolexchange.com.au/Jewelers-Hand-Vice.html

These are hand vises.   "Gunsmith's hand vise" shows some, but mostly unrelated tools.

[Wrenchmensch]

This is a French monkey wrench, made in France for nearly one hundred years. You can find similar wrenches in the U.S.A. (brought back from western Europe) as well as at flea markets in France and Germany. Chances are your wrench has the word "Acier" (steel, in French), or the word Goldenberg or other Alsatian name on it.  These wrenches come in all sizes. The three I have range from 6.5 inches in length to 17.5 inches in length.  The big one was sold to me in Pennsylvania as "a clamp".  These wrenches demonstrate what is so great about America.  During the century France has been making and using these wrenches, American genius has produced the myriad of wrench designs we all collect.