Craft Double Jaw Wrench

[OilyRascal]

This is not the first of these wrenches I have seen or learned of.  I have another that came from dimwittedmoose.  This one acquired yesterday is different, however, in that it is marked with "Craft" versus "Craftsman".

I would speculate it was the earlier versions of the two variations I've seen in markings.  Maybe a name change or the name morphed over time.

It is 10" long and is marked "CRAFTR.M.I.CO.PAT.NOV1907" on one side, and "CRAFT 10 IN." on the other.

[jimwrench]

 Have 3 sizes of Craftsman wrench and all are marked (Craft xx in) on one side and (The Craftsman Tool Co. Conneaut,O Pat Nov 1907) According to Cope these wrenchs were made by Attwood Wrench Tool & Stamping Co. in 1912 and 1913 and Craftsman Tool Co began making them in 1914. Realize this doesn't explain marking on your wrench but its all the info I have.

[rusty]

CRAFT - P. M. I. CO. (Pittsburgh Malleable Iron Co) - PAT NOV 1907 -[...] Scarce variant with the P. M. I. Co. marking...

King Herrington 2010 Antique Wrench Auction - Davenport, Iowa

http://wrenchingnews.com/herrington-auction-2010/catalog.html

Item #10

Thank Bus for this one :)

[OilyRascal]

Thanks Rusty - and Bus!  Your answer brings yet more questions for me.

Is it fair to say it is more recently covered by patent 1,593,588 given the full side pieces supporting the roller assembly?  I'm "trying" to take my best wag at dating it, and better understanding this wrench in general.  DATAMP list the original patent (870,781) with manufacturers of:

Attwood Mfg. Co. - Conneaut, OH
Craftman Tool Co. - Conneaut, OH
Pittsburgh Malleable Iron Company - Pittsburgh, PA

Does this mean there were three individual companies that produced a wrench under this patent?  that there was three manufacturer (marketing) names?  I first had it in my head it was something related to the start of "Craftsman" (the Sears label) as we know it today.  This "Pittsburgh Malleable Iron Co." throws a wrench in that for me.  Thinking out loud - I wonder why it's marked "Craft" and "PMICO", yet others are marked "Craft" and "Craftsman".

Are there examples found marked with Attwood?  Where does this connection come in?

My curious mind has to know more.

[rusty]

>My curious mind has to know more.

Way way WAY down the slippery slope, aren't we...LOL

Unfortunatly, this is one of the more obscure wrenches from a history point of view.
Before today, I didn't even know there was a 3rd variant....

Good luck ;'P

[jimwrench]

 Items 1085-1090 of Vern Nail auction Apr 13-15 2011 were craft wrenchs and item 1089 refers to Attwood Mfg co.. Can't tell from auction photo if it is so marked or not.