Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: Wrenchmensch on January 20, 2012, 02:25:33 PM

Title: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 20, 2012, 02:25:33 PM: I bought this wrench because it was unique, and I am a sucker for uniqueness. The jaw openings only adjust 1/4 inch, from a 1/4" opening to a 1/2" opening. The jaw surfaces are uniquely patterned and bolted in. The hex opening is 1 1/4". The embossed legends on the handle are "COMBINATION WRENCH" and "SUPERIOR". What I take to be the manufacturer's logo appears to an S surrounded by a circular H(?).

I am mystified as to why this wrench was made. If form follows function, then the wrench's jaw surfaces seem ideally suited for gripping a fixed-dimensioned surface such as plywood used in large-form concrete molds. It's conceivable that one or two men could grab and locate a large plywood mold board using these wrenches. One of the wrench's four shaped openings may have gripped rebar fasteners used to secure both ends of the rebar to the outer sides of the plywood before the pour. The foregoing is pure speculation, of course.

What do you guys think this is?
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Nebraska Cowman on January 20, 2012, 08:30:26 PM: Your post gave me a clue. Is it a sucker rod wrench?
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: gibsontool on January 21, 2012, 12:58:03 AM: The hex opening looks to be about the same size as the vertical shaft sticking out the top of some fire hydrants but I can't think of anything else related to a fire hydrant that the top jaws would fit ?
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 21, 2012, 06:19:39 AM: Your post gave me a clue. Is it a sucker rod wrench? -Nebraska Cowman

I have sent an email to the president of a sucker rod manufacturing company asking him if this is a sucker rod wrench. It doesn't look like a modern sucker rod wrench though. We'll see.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: sumner52000 on January 21, 2012, 01:37:05 PM: My co worker says fire hydrant wrench.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Neals on January 21, 2012, 01:53:12 PM: Superior Tool Co makes plumbing tools but I couldn't find anything similar to yours.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: skipskip on January 21, 2012, 03:23:49 PM: Hydrants usually have 5 sided valves to keep yahoos from opening them.

that is one VERY cool wrench

Skip
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: skipskip on January 21, 2012, 03:24:43 PM: Oh, my guess is gas line work, from the oval slot at the end.

Skip
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: mrchuck on January 21, 2012, 04:53:05 PM: Gas meter cut-off, fire hydrant opener, and a spring loaded adjustable monkey, painted RED,,,, tells me it is a Fire Dept wrench that goes to fire scenes with firemen.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Papaw on January 21, 2012, 05:18:30 PM: My son, the firefighter says it is not a hydrant wrench.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: keykeeper on January 21, 2012, 09:31:02 PM: Definitely not fire hydrant, as it isn't long enough. I've turned one or two of those in my time as a vol. firefighter. Those stems can be stubborn to get broke loose. I've also broke a couple stems, due to the water dept. not servicing the valve as they should have allowing the stem to seize up. They are also, as mentioned, pentagonal in shape to deter water thieves and vandals.

I'm in the gas line work group on this one, as the slot could very well be for turning off small meter valves. Still not sure what the small range jaws would be for, though.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 21, 2012, 09:45:02 PM: What was gas pipe made of, lead, copper, steel, or iron?
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: rusty on January 21, 2012, 09:47:55 PM: The big stuff was cast iron, the little stuff was malliable iron , later steel.

The type of jaws on that wrench seem to me to be for turning rod, or bending something flat, they would make a mess out of pipe
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 22, 2012, 12:22:41 PM: Quote
they would make a mess out of pipe

These jaws would not cut as deep as conventional pipe wrench jaws do. The projections on this wrench's jaw faces is less than 1/64". Would they leave a shallow crosshatched pattern on a pipe or rod surface? Probably. If this wrench was intended for pipe use, the pipe's OD would have to be between something like 5/16" and 1/2" and that pretty small.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for? A
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 22, 2012, 01:01:47 PM: Following is the response I got from the CEO of a sucker rod manufacturing company about this mystery wrench:

Mr. Wickes,

I can’t imagine how this wrench would be used with any modern configuration of sucker rods which are 5/8 through 1 1/8” inches in diameter. However, sometime in the past ½” diameter rods were used and the wrench appears to function like a pipe wrench, so maybe it was used on early sucker rods. Today, it would not be acceptable if it damages the surface of the rod. Prior to all steel rods, wooden rods were used with steel ends for connecting them together. Again I can’t imagine using this wrench for the wooden ones either. I am afraid I am not much help, but will ask around.

Bill Ridenour
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: rusty on January 22, 2012, 03:24:16 PM: between something like 5/16" and 1/2"

Like..perhaps a broken valve stem? with a hex for taking out the packing nut?
hmm.....
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 22, 2012, 05:01:07 PM: I put the wrench jaws on a piece of unused 1/3" copper pipe. It left only a small trace marking on the pipe. The jaw surfaces feel kind of like shark's skin.

At this point, I have written to Superior Tool Company, and they are looking to see if this is one of their tools from long ago. I also wrote to the Plumbers Union to see what they can tell me.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 23, 2012, 01:37:33 PM: Another tool-expert friend (not on Tool Talk) weighed in with this:

"That might be an in-house fire equipment wrench for dealing with a variety of water pipe-gas pipe lines. The color suggests that and the special (non-sparking tooth inserts?) aluminum (?)* also point that way. Otherwise, no clue from me!"

*The jaw pieces were tested with a magnet, and they are ferromagnetic.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for? From the Plumber's Union (IAPMO)
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 23, 2012, 04:19:17 PM: Here is the response from the IAPMO:

WOW,

what a cool wrench! Based on the types of openings- the square and the slotted end it looks like a wrench the fire dept. would use to open the different fire plugs. The older type of fire plugs and the new ones have this type of openings. AND the end looks like it can turn the valve on gas lines too. Looking at the spring opening at the jaw it looks like a speed/quick release wrench as well. I could be wrong but maybe 50+ years old, and quite possibly 100.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: keykeeper on January 23, 2012, 05:02:00 PM: Sprinkler heads maybe....... I have yet to see a hydrant with a hex nut. I'll never accept that it will fit a pentagonal hydrant stem or cap. I think whoever wrote you back sniffed a little too much "pipe dope" before they responded.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 23, 2012, 05:46:54 PM: I've got sprinkler head wrenches. They don't look anything like this wrench. (See below).
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: john k on January 23, 2012, 10:56:41 PM: How about a stove installers wrench. For changing out gas ranges, needed the slot to turn the gas valve, and basically one size jaws for the iron collar, on the pipe?
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 24, 2012, 03:18:28 PM: John K.

I will try stove installers next to see if they recognize this wrench. Meanwhile, I got the following from the CEO of the Superior Tool Company:

We are unsure exactly of what this wrench is either. We do know that it was not one of ours. We think it might be for an old farm implement. I saw a few wrenches with the hex shaped opening and some other square openings on the internet, but nothing exactly like this one with the spring loaded lever. There was a company called Lake Superior Wrench Company that produced the types below, but I couldn’t find anything exactly like yours. They started in Michigan and eventually moved to Iowa, the heart of farm equipment country. Maybe this could steer you in the right direction.

We are now very curious what it is also. We thought that you might know more about the Lake Superior Wrench Company than we do. If you do eventually find out what this was used for we would love to know.

Thank you, Ted
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Bus on January 24, 2012, 06:17:57 PM: I think I have seen a couple of these at the early wrench auctions at York, NE when Tom Bailey was having them.

MJD had one on one of his auctions last year.

http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/i11/a254530.htm (http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/i11/a254530.htm)

If I ever knew what they are for I have forgotten. But i don't think it was a fire hydrant wrench, a farm equipment wrench, A Lake Superior Wrench Co of Sault Ste Marie, Mich. product, a Superior Wrench Company Marshalltown, Iowa product or 100 years old. I will ask a few friends.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Bus on January 25, 2012, 01:01:27 AM: Stan Schulz replied to my email and said two Wrench Club members have asked for information on this wrench in the last several years but he doesn't have a clue.

If I had to venture a guess I would agree with Rusty and say some kind of valve wrench.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 25, 2012, 05:06:55 PM: I now believe this wrench is fairly unidentifiable!
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what for?
Post by: rusty on January 25, 2012, 08:24:28 PM: LOL...so...how much hair do you have left now?

Want some more unprovable theories?

Wrench for installing headless concrete anchors...cept I can't find one like it...

Wrench for straightening harrows or plows..Cept no one has ever made one so fancy...

Wrench for removing stuck drill bits (rock drilling) ...cept it is missing a cross wedge...
(and I don't see that anyone ever made such a wrench for sale, they all seem to be shop made)

The S in an H logo is another thing.....nada....why? It's a well made wrench, by someone who knew how to make it, so why doesn't anyone seem to have that wrench mark?

hmm
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Rhoderman on January 29, 2012, 08:50:26 AM: Superior makes windmills.
Windmill sucker rods are usually 5/16 or 3/8 dia if I remember right.
The hex nuts usually get rounded off, but I think they started out as 1/2" hex.
I would have painted it a bright color so I wouldn't lose it.
Cool old wrench though.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: geneg on January 29, 2012, 10:47:25 AM: (Dayton) Superior Symons concrete wall forming systems..logo is S in a hex or squarish S.
Hex opening is used to tighten coil bolts & coupling nuts.

Plier front is used to snap off wall ties.

Other slots and openings are for flat ties, wedges, etc.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Bus on January 29, 2012, 07:29:09 PM: I think geneg has got it right. The logo on the wrench doesn't look like the "S" in a square but it may be the logo for the actual manufacturer of the wrench not Dayton-Symons-Superior.

I searched for Symons wrench on the internet but didn't come up with anything for this wrench but did find a similar tool (see picture) that I have listed as a What's Its in a couple of Wrenching News Auctions. It has also been in the Missouri Valley Wrench Club Newsletter at least once, submitted by a member unsuccessfully requesting information.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/Dayton-Superior-Wrench.jpg)
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 29, 2012, 09:49:51 PM: I've sent a letter off to Superior Windmills Co. to see if this is one of their sucker rod wrenches. I will share the contents with you all.

This wrench is fairly heavy: 3 lbs. 10.5 ozs.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Bus on January 31, 2012, 12:10:14 AM: Here's a variation of wrenchmensch's wrench. It's 12.5" long and marked "Superior Nut Washer Wrench"

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/Superior-Nut-Washer-Wrench-1.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/Superior-Nut-Washer-Wrench-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Branson on January 31, 2012, 07:40:33 AM: Same numbers on the movable jaw, too. Maybe we can find this wrench after all.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: rusty on January 31, 2012, 05:03:13 PM: A "nut washer wrench" fits a concrete form "taper bolt", apparently an obsolete form tie system...

but i can't find a picture, circa 1978....
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 31, 2012, 05:37:23 PM: How about checking the Concrete Museum's archives?
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Rhoderman on February 05, 2012, 02:36:26 PM: Quote from: rusty on January 31, 2012, 05:03:13 PM

A "nut washer wrench" fits a concrete form "taper bolt", apparently an obsolete form tie system...

but i can't find a picture, circa 1978....
Whew! When I first read that I was pretty sure I didn't even want to see the machine you thought it was used on!
Concrete forms have some interesting hardware they use.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Papaw on February 14, 2012, 09:17:49 PM: Bolt Museum is showing one of these on their What's-It page.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on February 14, 2012, 10:17:26 PM: I called the Bolt Museum and got someone who did not know they had a Superior Wrench in the collection.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on February 14, 2012, 10:53:19 PM: Here is how concrete forms work today, but I'll bet that the Dayton-Superior name has a history tied to that wrench.
JIS

http://www.daytonsuperior.com/lists/product%20catalog1/download.ashx?ID=2058
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Bus on February 14, 2012, 11:29:49 PM: Bob,
Have you tried contacting Dayton-Superior? A retired former owner of a bridge construction company was here today and confirmed that the tool was used on concrete forms. He thought he still had a few plus the cone nuts they fit. He was going to try and find them and get back with me. He thought the earliest ones were his Dad's and would date from the 1930's.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on February 15, 2012, 12:12:32 PM: Bus,

Sounds like we're on to something! I appreciate your persistence! I'll try Dayton Superior per your suggestion.
Title: Re: Unique wrench, but what's it for?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on February 15, 2012, 09:31:33 PM: Apologies to Geneg who correctly identified this wrench several weeks ago. I wrote to Symons in hopes of getting a picture and story about the wrench. I spent 6 years in DuPont's Construction Division in the late 1960s, but I wasn't involved in the forms construction side of the business. I was mostly concerned with electricians, pipefitters, weldors, and riggers.