C. Drew & Co. 3/4" Angle Wrench

[lauver]

Gang,

I picked up a brand/OEM of wrench this weekend that I've not encountered before and thought I would share it with you.  I did a TT search to see if there were any other mentions of this brand and did not find any.  I also googled the interweb and was surprised by much info on the company/brand history as well as tool sales, auction sales, and collector websites.  So, at least this company is on the radar screen.

Here's a couple photo's for the record:





As you can see, it's a decent looking specimen and will fit in nicely in my mixed brand angle wrench set.  More importantly, it fills in the 3/4" size I've been missing in my slowly growing set.

As usual, questions, comments, & observations are always welcome...

[1930]

That looks like a quality wrench

[turnnut]

that might be the C. Drew & Co. from Kingston, Massachusetts.
started in early 1800's,   augers, caulking tools, etc.

bought out by Kingston Tool Co. in 1970 ?
building burned down in 1980

I live in Massachusetts and I do not recall any of their wrenches in my collections.
do not recall seeing any either.

will have to look when I thaw out.

[lauver]

turnnut,

Yes, one in the same company.  And, from what I have been able to learn on the internet, they were not known for their mechanics tools, but they did have a small line of these tools.  What is not clear is what tools were included in the mechanics line, and did they make them or outsource them?  Some of the guys on the Garage Gazette have suggested that the C. Drew and Co. angle wrenches look similar to Matco and Bonney angle wrenches.  I'm going to explore this possibility.

More on this later.   

[bill300d]

lauver

Can't add much to what you all ready know, but I picked this one up about a year ago and haven't delved into the background yet. I can tell you it's nearly identical to two Proto's I have.
pic1 Drew
pic2 Proto
pic3 Proto

[lauver]

bill300D,

Thanks for posting your photos.  There are now at least two known C. Drew & Co wrench sightings and you have found a similar design in the two Protos.  This lends some credence to the theory of Drew & Co. outsourcing their wrenches.

Can you tell me the Proto wrench numbers and sizes? I'd like to look them up and see what their intended application is/was and when they were sold.

I appreciate your contribution.

[turnnut]

Bill300D;

 if you lay the Drew on top of the Proto, does it match up ?

[bill300d]

Ok here we go. Dug them out and took some better photos.
 Drew no.13    1-1/16” x  1-1/8”     
Proto  AN-8505-11   15/16” x 1”
First observation the Drew is thicker 3/16” compared to the Proto at 1/8”also the drew is obviously stamped but I believe after closer inspection  the Proto is too (just finished better).Width of shank on both ½” , offset  shank to head is the same , transition to head and shape of head same. Finish on the Drew is polished chrome and the Proto is satin chrome.  When laid name side up the wrenches are mirror images of themselves (stamped on opposite sides).
   
My take all differences aside is they are from the same mfg whether that is Drew, Proto or someone else.  I’d be interested in what any and all have to say, good, bad or indifferent.

More photos in another post.

Bill
 

[bill300d]

More Photos

[turnnut]

OK, I could not wait for warm weather to arrive, so after my 1st posting on these wrenches,
I went to -bay and searched for C. Drew & Co.  there were a few hits, one was for a wrench.
and I bought one on Feb.2 for $4.99, it was shipped on Feb. 3 and arrived today Feb. 4th.
from  Cobleskill, New York.
it looks like the one that Bill300d showed. except it is 11/16" and 3/4"  with the same type of
stamping on the name.  but does not have a no.
he has sold 2 already and has 8 left.  allnew and all the same.
seller is; mikeylikes22          item # 111587574402
his writeup is;  C. Drew & Co. 11/16"       x 3/4" Type XV, thin open end wrench- 1/8" thick
6 1/2" long,  wrench is 1/8" but is very strong and made for use with hydraulic fittings or to get into tight spaces. made in the USA for military. from an industrial supply company that closed.

I can see using it on fitting to keep 2 wrenches apart to get a better grip. Frank 

[bill300d]

Nice find.
Is it really 1/8" thick?   
What kind of finish does it have?
Are the edges of the shank rounded and the outside edge of the heads ground flat?
The other Proto I have is also 11/16 x 5/8  and is 6 1/2" long and 1/8" thick

bill

[bill300d]

Lauver

Back to your wrench. I did some digging and found this Mac Sabina I have bears quite a resemblance to yours.



Also forgot to post those Proto nos. for you
AN-8505-11   15/16 x 1"
AN-8505-7     11/16 x 3/4"
don't know when they were sold but the application Thin Service Wrench

bill

[turnnut]

Turnnut here,

  the wrench is new old stock, it has a dull shine to it.

  slight roundness to the edges.

  looking at the side with the wording, the 11/16" side has an upward bend,
  the 3/4" side has a downward bend.

  I will take a few pictures in the morning and have my wife help me put them here.

  Frank

 

[lauver]

bill300D,

Thanks for posting the Proto wrench numbers and the MAC Sabina angle wrench photos.  The heads of the MAC and Drew angle wrenches look the same, but the beams are different.  The MAC beam is slender whereas the Drew beam is broad.

The closest angle wrenches I can find to the Drew wrench are Bonney and Matco (made by Bonney for Matco).

Your two Drew offset thin DOE wrenches look to be a near perfect match to the Proto equivalents.  I think you have found the OEM for your Drew wrenches.  By the way, your Proto wrenches do not appear in any of the Proto catalogs that I have.  I'm pretty sure they are/were special wrenches produced for the US military.

What all this suggests to me is that C. Drew & Co. did not make their own wrenches (i.e. they contracted production from other wrench makers who branded them for C. Drew & Co.).  At least, this is where my thinking is tonight.

[chopper1]

Lauver

Back to your wrench. I did some digging and found this Mac Sabina I have bears quite a resemblance to yours.

bill

The Mac's are identical to Fairmount's, who I believe made them for Mac.