Jones Orth Wrench

[WiebeLC]

This wrench is one from the collection of the museum where I work. I tried to find some information about Jones-Orth but I haven't been very successful. I did discover there was a company called Jones and Orth but very little other than that.

[Neals]

I did not find a company Jones-Orth but did find a trademark. It may have been owned by the Ohio Knife co which made knives for various industrial machines. It was said to be first used in 1954 as a trademark. Later owned by Pacific saw and knife co. Your wrench looks to be much older than 1954 so doubt that this helps much other than a possible connection to Ohio Knife which started in about 1898. I'm guessing the wrench may be for changing blades on some machine.

[Neals]

Spent a few more minutes on google and found a Jones-Orth Cutterhead company. Search for Jones -Orth Cutterhead co history and you should get what I found.

[WiebeLC]

It looks like Jones-Orth was in business from 1922 until 1956 when they were purchased by R Hoe and Company.
I haven't found any referance to Jones Orth making their own tools, so would they have contracted a tool maker to make these wrenches for them? I wish I could take it off the wall and check the other side for marks but thats going to have to wait until the snow melts and I can get onto the museum yard again.

[Neals]

I have no proof but there are far more tool brands than there ever were tool makers so it is quite likely that the wrench was not made by Jones-Orth. I did find one hint that there was a connection to Ohio Knife. It would be interesting to be able to compare both their product lines.

[rusty]

>would they have contracted a tool maker to make these wrenches for them?

Entirely possible, and fairly likely.

Southbend made lathes with lots of precision machined parts, castings, etc, but nevertheless contracted out the wrenches that went with them....