Who made this wrench?

[Wrenchmensch]

I need help identifying this 5 1/4" wrench with a "290" boss wrench on it.  It was found in Sussex County, Delaware.

The wrench's closed end openings and its one open-ended opening, are heavily reinforced as can be seen from the backside view. There is an unusual blade coming out of the closed end. 

The wrench has 2 reinforced hex openings, 5/8" and 3/4". The hex openings are 9/32" thick. The square opening is 1/2", and its reinforced jaws are 1/2" thick. The external portion of the blade is 3/16" long, 1/2" wide, and 1/16" thick.

This is a special function wrench if I ever saw one.  What do you wrench experts think this one was used for?

[jimwrench]

 Thought I had one but it turned out to be a (206). Looks like they could be from same company. Unfortunately I don't know who that company was. Hope you get an ID. The 206 is a strong 4 inchs long.

[jimwrench]

 I thought I had one of those. Just bought one in auction at Goodfield,Il a couple of weeks ago. It was still in pile that hadn't been looked at yet. One of those collateral finds when you buy box lots. Don't have any info on wrench but evidently it isn't that rare.

[gibsontool]

jimswrench. Yours appears the same except I don't see the screwdriver type projection on the right hand side, or is it there but obscured in the photo?

[Wrenchmensch]

Jim:

No, 290 is not rare if there are two of them out there, I agree. Can we settle on "Uncommon"?

[jimwrench]

 Projection on right hand end may be feeder pad and not screwdriver tip. Mine doesn't appear to be broken but finish looks like lacquer which may not be original finish. Wrenchmensch does your wrench have screwdriver tip on right end or just a longer projection?

[johnsironsanctuary]

They were made long enough to either wear out a pattern or there was a second vendor. One has raised letters and one is imprinted. Both scenarios say that it should be 'not uncommon'. Gas wrench for the plumbers acetylene bottles?

[Wrenchmensch]

The "tip" appears to be a piece of 16 gauge steel, 9/16" in length, inserted into the casting, either in a secondary operation or during the casting process. This steel piece is in line with the center-line between to top and bottom of the wrench. The tip of the steel is slightly tapered, having what appears to be a machined edge on both sides. Interestingly, the "blade" is not centered in the wrench. This suggests some "wiggle room" existed for placement of the 16 ga. steel piece  in the mold.

The tip is light for an ordinary screwdriver.

[Sawduster]

Greetings from the forum's newest member.  Hours of Googling led me to this post.

Is there a generic name for a wrench that includes what appears to be a screwdriver tip? 

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I have a similar query.

At first glance mine is a simple double open-ended wrench.  There is what appears to be a short, wide, thick screwdriver blade tip at 90 degrees to the handle.
Overall length is about 6", one end fits (about) 1/2 inch and the other (about) 5/8 inch, with the protrusion in question on the side of the grip on the 5/8 inch end.
The only marking is K99.

The 'screwdriver tip' on mine appears <much> thicker and cruder than the one in the 290 backside picture which does look machined in the photo as Wrenchmensch said.

[Papaw]

Welcome to Tool Talk!

Most likely not a screwdriver tip, but a spreader for shackles and such.
Pictures are nice, so we can see what you have.

[amertrac]

when i started working as a mechanic(early fifties) the acetylene tanks came with a brass thread protector with a slot in the top it looks to me that the wrench  is for that , i have never seen one but it could have been  JMHO   bob w.

[Wrenchmensch]

BobW:

That seems to fit. The 290 wrench could have been designed for use with acetylene tanks.

Bob Wickes

(nka BobW, aka wrenchmensch)