Tool Talk
Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: Wrenchmensch on August 25, 2011, 05:50:59 PM
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Today I visited a first-class picker and friend, and poked among a great volume of his collected materials. I am a wrench collector, so I had to turn down the very nice 18th c. froe he offered for $65. If any else wants this froe, let me know.
As it turned out, I picked up an 8" Red Chief Mfg. Co. L.G Automatic Wrench, patented Nov. 16, 1915 by Louis E. Gaisser. A push with your thumb adjusts the jaw opening.
The other wrench I found was a Bahco 2A adjustable wrench made in Sweden. The wrench appears to be early, possibly before 1900. The other imprint on the wrench is in Swedish and reads: H. N. TVER=GADE 15.. The wrench is 12" long, and the jaws open to slightly more than 1 3/4".
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both are very nice finds. They would have had trouble getting away from me too.
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Joe Greiwe, expert on Bahco wrenches, said the following on the adjustable Bahco wrench: "The wrench you have is the first adjustable wrench of the crescent style that was invented by J. P. Joannsson of Enkoping, Sweden. It was patented on May 11, 1892. He formed a sales agreement with B. A. Hjorth & Company to produce and sell the wrenches. The Bahco Company manufactures 40 million wrenches a year and are sold all over the world yet. I hope this information helps you. Great find.
Joe Greiwe
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Here is what I received from Bahco in Sweden regarding the proto-Crescent wrench:
<SNA Europe - Sweden - info> to me show details 7:44 AM (1 hour ago)
Dear sir!
I have now confirmed with the museum (JP Johansson society) that your adjustable wrench is made 1910.
The word is “hantverkare” which means tradesman/made by no 15.
Best regards Magnus Alterot
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Outstanding! Great that they are willing to answer you.
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Can you see "hand worker" in hantverkare?
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hantverkare is Artisans in Swedish, but I see hand worker, too in that word.
Arbeiter is worker in German
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hantverkare is Artisans in Swedish, but I see hand worker, too in that word.
Arbeiter is worker in German
Funny how words shift around. "Hand-weorc" simply means work done by hand in Old English, but "sinc hondweorc smitha" translates as "treasure, the handiwork of artificers."
Language fascinates me.
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H. N. TVER=GADE 15..
How is it that the conversation has shifted from the words stamped on the wrench?
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H. N. TVER=GADE 15..
How is it that the conversation has shifted from the words stamped on the wrench?
I collect words, too.
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Moi aussi!
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Et moi aussi, mais je oublier les mots toute-suite! <--- pretty bad French- it has been years since I spoke enough to use it.
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Et moi aussi, mais je oublier les mots toute-suite!
Peut-etre vous voulez a dire << mais j'oublie les mots toute de suite, Moi, je reve en Francais quand je dors a Paris comme tous le monde Francais. C'est un fait!
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To bring this conversation back to tool talk, words are among our most important tools. And old ones are really nifty.
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Here is what I received from Bahco in Sweden regarding the proto-Crescent wrench:
<SNA Europe - Sweden - info> to me show details 7:44 AM (1 hour ago)
Dear sir!
I have now confirmed with the museum (JP Johansson society) that your adjustable wrench is made 1910.
The word is “hantverkare” which means tradesman/made by no 15.
Best regards Magnus Alterot
great info... thanks so much!
cheers, bird