Tool Talk

Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: mikeswrenches on August 14, 2013, 07:15:17 PM

Title: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: mikeswrenches on August 14, 2013, 07:15:17 PM

I picked this up a couple weeks ago at Martin Donnelly's July auction thinking that it was just a standard version of this wrench.  It is patent no. D57,068 that was issued to a George Allen of South Bend, IN on Feb. 8 th of 1921.

It is in the DATAMP data base as a Kento wrench.  I'm not sure that this is correct.  If you look at the picture carefully you will see that a large K is in the lefthand arrowhead and a large O is in the right hand arrowhead.  The portion that connects the two arrowheads has the letters ENT although not as large as the K and O.  It seems to me that this could just as easily be KO ent for enterprises, a not uncommon way to express things.

I searched for Kento and only found the DATAMP reference.  A similar search for KO ent. Found nothing.  I found this wrench, called a Benton, on a web site but with a significant difference.   The one I have has a knurled ring just below the handle that may be rotated clockwise so that the handle may not be rotated until the ring is rotated ccw.  No lock ring is shown on the patent.

It also seems strange to me that no utility patent was filed.  This wrench is unique enough in its operation that I would have thought that Mr. Allen would want to protect its workings.

It is not evident from the patent how it works so I'll try to explain it.

Turning the handle so that the rack lines up with the notch in the handle, allows the lower jaw with the rack attached, to move up and down.  The lower jaw is manually moved up to contact the nut to be tightened and then the handle is rotated clockwise.  This causes the lower jaw to move forward by the amount of the rack pitch, thus removing any clearance that might exist between the jaws and the nut to be tightened.  Turning the lock ring at the bottom then prevents the main handle from turning.  Reversing the procedure releases everything.

Overall length is 7 1/2 in.  Max jaw opening is 2 in. And the jaws are 1 1/2 in. deep.

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: HeelSpur on August 14, 2013, 07:46:43 PM

What I found was, "not in Rathbone, no info".

There is one pictured right below a Benton here, #115
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/ervin-2007/0111-129.jpg

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: Lewill2 on August 14, 2013, 08:54:15 PM

I have a Kento but I am out of the USA until this weekend. HY-Speed and Benton are similar designs. If nobody else bellies up with more info I'll post pictures of mine this weekend or early next week.

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: mikeswrenches on August 14, 2013, 08:59:22 PM

HeelSpur, Thanks for the link!  It looks like 113 and 114 are the same and also like the design patent.  No. 115 appears to be like mine.  No. 116 also appears to be the same design even though the handle is different.

Now I'm really curious who made them.

Mike

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: Bus on August 14, 2013, 10:19:06 PM

I’m probably on of the world’s most severe skeptics when it comes to wrench identification. The wrench world is full of misinformation provided by people who jump to conclusions without valid proof but I am positive that your wrench reads "Kento" and not "KO ent". Below is a photo of the box that mine came in.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/kento-wrench-box-1.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/kento-wrench-box-2.jpg)

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: mikeswrenches on August 15, 2013, 06:10:02 AM

Thanks Bus!  Pretty hard to refute that kind of evidence.  I am now a believer.

Mike

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: Lewill2 on August 19, 2013, 08:44:32 AM

Mine also.

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: mikeswrenches on August 19, 2013, 05:59:13 PM

Les, you and Bus win this one!  I didn't get a box with mine.  It seems really unusual to see two people with boxed examples.  Thanks for sharing.

Mike

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: OilyRascal on August 19, 2013, 09:53:01 PM

This is the very reason I aim to read every topic, every day.  Thank you all for sharing.

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: Lewill2 on August 20, 2013, 08:34:20 AM

Mine still has the remnants of the paper that the wrench was originally wrapped up in inside the paper tube, there was a Kento sticker that held the paper wrapping closed. About 3/4 of the sticker is still there.

Title: Re: Kento quick adjust wrench...maybe
Post by: Bus on August 20, 2013, 11:14:22 AM

Quote from: mikeswrenches on August 19, 2013, 05:59:13 PM

Les, you and Bus win this one!  I didn't get a box with mine.  It seems really unusual to see two people with boxed examples.  Thanks for sharing. Mike

Several years ago someone found a large cache of the Bentons, NOS and unopened in the original round tubes and was selling them at various tool shows. That's how I got mine.