CHarles E Hall Bicycle Wrench No11

[lauver]

Gang,

A friend picked this wrench up in a batch of tools he bought and later gifted it to me.  It's a little out of my league, but I have noticed many of you collect this style of adjustable wrench.  I'm hoping some of you can shed some light on this little wrench.

Here's what's stamped on the wrench:
H-crest makers mark,
Charles E. Hall Co.
Buffalo NY USA
No 11

And here's a couple of photo's:




Here's what I'd like to know:
Is this wrench common or rare?
Is this wrench fairly typical of other bicycle wrenches of it's time?
Was 5" OAL a common/practical length for a bicycle wrench back in the day?
Was C E Hall (1910-1914) known for any significant innovations or contributions to the early and developing US tool industry?

Just curious about this stuff...

[Papaw]

According to Cope, Hall was a maker of bicycle wrenches from 1909 to 1914, when the company was sold to Barcalo.Their No. 15 was a combination bicycle wrench, cotter pin puller, and spreader. They also made  the Chaseall "S" wrench in the Westcott Pattern, and an auto wrench with a tire spoon handle.

I don't think your wrench is rare, but it is desirable.

[jimwrench]

 That's a odd place for a hang hole if that is what I'm seeing in picture. I have a wrench that looks like a NC1 but I'm guessing its a NO 1 with a bad stamp. It has a hang hole on end and none of the pictures in Cope show a hole so I'm guessing it is owner modified. Would be nice to have a list of models he made. Someone probably has one compiled.

[lauver]

jimwrench,

The hole in the shank is odd, but there is a similar hole in the movable jaw that lines up with the one in the shank (see 1st photo again).  I have no idea what these two holes are for, but we can probably eliminate the idea of a hang hole.  Perhaps for a bolt and wing nut to secure other tools in a set?  Who knows?

Here's my take on the CE Hall No 11-- it's a cool little piece of tool history, much like my Ford model-T tools, that has no real application in todays world.  Sad but true.

It does give me a warm fuzzy feeling when I look at it or handle it :)

[turnnut]

you may want to check out Charles E. Hall at "ALLOY ARTIFACTS"
like Papaw said, they were bought out by Barcalo in 1914
then later on, Crescent Niagara bought out Barcola.
then Cooper bought out Crescent

I have a page from BUHL SONS COMPANY catalog that shows 4 CHARLES E. HALL CO. wrenches

no.8 BLUED FINISH= adjustable bicycle or motor boat wrench. 5 inch $2.40 per dozen
no.5 mottled finish =       "            "       "     "       "        "       5 inch $6.50  "      "
no. 05 nickle plated=       "            "       "     "       "        "       5 inch $8.00  "      "
they then show 2 styles of automobile wrenches, listed for automobile, boat, motor truck and machinest wrenches. dropped forged bar, malleable jaws, case hardened black finish.
no.16  7 inches    $5.10 per dozen     
no.18  9 1/4 inches   $5.50 per dozen
no.23  14 inches       $21.60 per dozen       
no.25  18 1/4 inches $32.00 per dozen

no.20  11 1/2 inches with curved end for removing automobile & bicycle tires  $9.60 per dozen

if you want a copy of the pictures with listing, pm me,  Frank

at 78, I still have not mastered picture posting.   

[Charles Garrett]

Charles E Hall was located at 108 Broadway in Buffalo from 1907 - 1914.  Besides quality wrenchs they also made  Picks and some farm tools.  They were not very successful financially.  From 1906-1907 Koeth Mfg occupied the same address.  Wish I could make a connection.  In 1907 E D C Koeth set up a corp with Currier in Coudersport, PA to mfg his Koeth interchangeable jaw  plier type tool with 6-10 different jaw sets.