A recent eBay auction has me wondering. It is for a C. P. Wrench combination wrench, knife and screw driver. The listing states that the seller questions if it is a prototype or just an unfinished example. Per the patent and known examples the the spring on the self adjusting wrench jaw is riveted to the back of the wrench handle/knife back. The sellers example doesn't have a spring and there isn't any evidence of a hole for the spring rivet so he assumes the piece never had a spring. This example was never stamped with the usual makers name and patent date.
Enter Lewill2, I have a C. P. Wrench in my collection. My example doesn't have a riveted spring either but mine does have a bent spring that is held in place by locking in place with a small tab in front of the pivot boss. There isn't any evidence of a rivet hole in mine either although mine is stamped with the name and patent date information.
Does anyone else have a C. P. Wrench example that either has a riveted spring, no spring or a V shaped spring like mine? Has anyone seen one in person that has seen either style? I tried to remove the pivot screw but it doesn't want to come loose so I don't want to force the spring out of position.
Patent number is 888795, May 26, 1908.
