A Few Of The Items I Picked Up Last Week

[dowdstools]

These last couple of months have been very fruitful for me, old tool acquisition wise. Mostly I have been getting woodworking tools, which is my area of interest, but I don't rule out other items. Here are some photos of some wrenches, and a screwdriver, I picked up in the past week. A double end socket marked GARDNER MOTOR CO. (15/16 and 1 1/16 openings), a nut/pipe wrench marked SAM'L HALL'S SON - this has patent dates for the U.S., England, and Canada, from 1894- two Lectrolite wrenches marked FORD BRAKES - they are both the same sizes and model numbers, but one is thicker and sturdier than the other - and a BERYLCO beryllium copper screwdriver.

[lbgradwell]

...a nut/pipe wrench marked SAM'L HALL'S SON - this has patent dates for the U.S., England, and Canada, from 1894...

That wrench is AWESOME! I've never seen one before...

[dowdstools]

I've never seen one either, but you can't go by me, as I pay more attention to woodworking, and other, tools. I found it pictured in the Schulz's book "Antique and Unusual Wrenches". It is number 1081, and is described as a nut wrench. They only mention the US patent, not the English and Canadian patents. There is writing on the head that indicates it was designed as a pipe wrench. It says GRIP HIGH ON PIPE KEEP SHARP. I tried searching the internet in order to assess some type of value, but didn't find anything. There were a couple of listings to auctions where one was included, but when I clicked on the link, it was not there. Here's a picture of the head and the patent listings on the handle.

[lbgradwell]

What are you meant to "keep sharp", I wonder? There do not appear to be teeth on that thing...

I guess Samuel's son was Charles and the Canadian Patent was 45993.

http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/45993/summary.html?query=%28ISD%3E%3d1894-05-08%29+%3CAND%3E+%28ISD%3C%3d1894-05-10%29&start=1&num=50&type=advanced_search

[HeelSpur]

I have to agree that pipe wrench is awesome, gotta find one now.

[Nolatoolguy]

I have to agree that pipe wrench is awesome, gotta find one now.

+1

[Bus]

I have always liked he Hall wrenches and they come in a wide range of sizes. The smallest is a bicycle wrench about 5-1/2" and the largest 48" if I remember correctly. They were for both nuts and pipe. The "keep sharp' refers to the inside edge of the lower jaw. Below is an add from the League of American Wheelmen and Good Roads Bulletin - 1897 shown on DATAMP.

There is a variant of the smallest one on the auction at York NE this weekend.

0376. HALL WRENCH / PAT'D MAR. 13, 1894 - - 5.5" comb nut and pipe center screw adjust with a pivoting top jaw. The flat sides of the jaws were used for nuts and the sharp back bottom jaw edge for pipe. Patented by Charles Hall of New York, NY and mfg. by Samuel Hall's Sons of New York. Good+. (S1081, C155) 

[Lewill2]

My 5 1/2 inch pictured.

Chrome plating is about 98%

[Branson]

I have to agree that pipe wrench is awesome, gotta find one now.

There's a similar one on eBay right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171025100683?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[lbgradwell]

The "keep sharp' refers to the inside edge of the lower jaw.

Ahhh, I see now! Thanks for posting that ad.

[dowdstools]

Thanks for posting the ad, Bus. It's always helpful when you can see how something was used.

Lynn

[Wrenchmensch]

I have an ultra clean 14-inch Samuel Hall wrench given to me by a buddy some years ago.  I have often wondered, "How does one sharpen this wrench without eventually grinding the jaws away?"  Has any ever seen a wrench sharpener?