Tool Talk

Farm and Implement Wrenches and Tools => Farm Implement Wrenches and Tools => Topic started by: Stoney on October 16, 2011, 08:14:59 PM

Title: Wrench ID please
Post by: Stoney on October 16, 2011, 08:14:59 PM

(http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr40/plantshepherdplus/DSC_0014-1.jpg)
Small cast wrench about 5 5/8 inches.  No markings.

Title: Re: Wrench ID please
Post by: Bus on October 19, 2011, 05:15:27 AM

Stoney,
Here's an excerpt from a Whitman & Barnes Lawnmower Parts Book that shows a No. 123 wrench shaped like your wrench. I have this wrench marked with the 1232 number and unmarked like yours. The unmarked ones are found with flat sides like yours and with raised outer edges. I will get a picture posted later.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/WB-lawnmower-wrenches.jpg)

Title: Re: Wrench ID please
Post by: Stoney on October 19, 2011, 10:02:33 AM

Thanks Bus that helps a lot.  I was afraid it might be a gas bottle wrench.  Since I'm a horticulturist, it's nice to add a vintage Whitman & Barnes lawnmower wrench to my Dille & McGuire 1893 lawnmower wrench I bought from you several years ago.

Title: Re: Wrench ID please
Post by: Bus on October 21, 2011, 01:41:43 AM

Here's a pic of my variations:
Top - Raised edges with P123 part number.
Center - Raised edges, no markings.
Bottom - Flat sides, no markings (like Stoney's).

They are all the shape and same opening sizes.

The parts List states the P123 was used only during 1904.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/P123-WB-lawnmower-wrenches.jpg)

Title: Re: Wrench ID please
Post by: Stoney on October 21, 2011, 07:00:57 AM

Cool Bus.  Does that mean that the marked wrench  P123 was only used in 1904 or the wrench in all it's variations was used in 1904?

Title: Re: Wrench ID please
Post by: Bus on October 21, 2011, 10:45:02 AM

Quote from: Stoney on October 21, 2011, 07:00:57 AM

Cool Bus.  Does that mean that the marked wrench  P123 was only used in 1904 or the wrench in all it's variations was used in 1904?

That I can't say for certain. If they only used them for one year you wouldn't think there would be three variations. Maybe they used them on other model lawnmowers as well or maybe a different company used the unmarked ones.

There are numerous cast wrenches that come in marked and unmarked examples, Sometimes I think the casting wasn't real sharp and you can't read the number.

Identifying these wrenches can be a challenge. Sometimes the same wench and number are used by different unrelated companies, sometimes the same wrench with a different number are used by different companies and other times the same number but different wrench is used by different companies. Other times the same company changes the wrench but used the same old number. Some of the wrenches will probably never be identified as the listing in the parts book just says "Wrench" and no picture.

Title: Re: Wrench ID please
Post by: Stoney on October 21, 2011, 02:05:56 PM

And sometimes the picture in the parts book is a misprint like the Cole 444 wrench shown in the Cole Catalog and shown in Rathbone Vol 2 which is different to the wrench shown in the picture hanging in the wrench space in the Catalog.  But then who would have guessed about us Wrench Nuts I mean WRENCH COLLECTORS.