Tool Talk
Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: trickyrabbit on December 10, 2012, 05:32:31 PM
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Hey, I'm new here. I picked up this wrench at a yard sale because I thought it looked cool. I cannot find it anywhere. If anyone can let me know how old it is or anything else about, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
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Dont know any thing about its history but it sure is a neat looking old wrench.
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[quote ]
I picked up this wrench at a yard sale because I thought it looked cool. [/quote]
Careful, those thoughts can lead to buying more tools !
It is a neat looking wrench, I cant help ID it, but would be surprised if you cant get an answer here.
Brian L.
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Per Copes:
Maker, c1871, of wrenches patented August 1, 1871, by G.E. Phillips. Incorporated in 1874 with $8000 capital as the Walton Wrench Mfg. Co. The firm failed in 1875 and was reorganized as the Girard Wrench Co.
A relatively rare wrench. Good find!
Mike
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You have a good eye. Your wrench is interesting, and signifigant :)
Walton started as the T.B. Walton Company, and was renamed The Walton Wrench Manufacturing company. The intention was to produce several sizes of a wrench based on patent 117679 (Aug 1 1871, G.B. Phillips) and half the money came from Girard.
Yes, *that* Girard....
The venture failed, and was sold at Bankrupcy in 1875, and the assets became The Girard Wrench Manufacturing Co....
[mike beat me to it by 2 minutes LOL!]
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Thanks for the info. I did find one place that said Walton Wrench was a reorganized at Girard Wrench but had no clue how old it was. So how rare is it? Also, about how much would it be worth? Thanks again for the info.
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Tricky, I made an assumption that I shouldn't have made with the reference to Copes. This reference is to Kenneth L. Cope and his book American Wrench Makers 1830-1930. An excellent reference that is still available. I would highly recommend it if you want learn more about wrenches and their manufacturers.
Mike
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Not strictly a pipe wrench. Pipe wrenches generally have one jaw that will flex/flop in relation to the other*, and teeth pointing in opposing directions, to get a grip on round pipe when tightening/loosening it. The vernacular term for what you've got, last I looked, is "monkey wrench" (I stand ready to be corrected by the more knowledgeable wrench-meisters here), useful for nuts and bolts or other things with parallel sides that can fit between the jaws.
*Although there are also chain and strap pipe wrenches that work on a slightly different although related principle.
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These are described as "screw wrenches" in 19th Century army manuals. Commonly called monkey wrenches. Came in a lot of different sizes for bigger and smaller usually square nuts.
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Nice early and uncommon wrench. I'd have bought it too!
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Thanks again everybody. Any idea what it would be worth?
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Willing buyer-willing seller will answer that question.
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One odd feature of the WALTON -- the jaws are not at 90 degrees to the shank -- that & the form of the adjusting nut are aspects of the Phillips patent.
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I thought something looked bent, the jaws to shank & the handle. but that is the design?