Unique wrench, but what's it for?

[Wrenchmensch]

I bought this wrench because it was unique, and I am a sucker for uniqueness. The jaw openings only adjust 1/4 inch, from a 1/4" opening to a 1/2" opening. The jaw surfaces are uniquely patterned and bolted in. The hex opening is 1 1/4".  The embossed legends on the handle are "COMBINATION WRENCH" and "SUPERIOR". What I take to be the manufacturer's logo appears to an S surrounded by a circular H(?).

I am mystified as to why this wrench was made. If form follows function, then the wrench's jaw surfaces seem ideally suited for gripping a fixed-dimensioned surface such as plywood used in large-form concrete molds. It's conceivable that one or two men could grab and locate a large plywood mold board using these wrenches. One of the wrench's four shaped openings may have gripped rebar fasteners used to secure both ends of the rebar to the outer sides of the plywood before the pour.  The foregoing is pure speculation, of course.

What do you guys think this is?

[Nebraska Cowman]

Your post gave me a clue. Is it a sucker rod wrench?

[gibsontool]

The hex opening looks to be about the same size as the vertical shaft sticking out the top of some fire hydrants but I can't think of anything else related to a fire hydrant that the top jaws would fit ?

[Wrenchmensch]

Your post gave me a clue. Is it a sucker rod wrench? -Nebraska Cowman

I have sent an email to the president of a sucker rod manufacturing company asking him if this is a sucker rod wrench.  It doesn't look like a modern sucker rod wrench though.  We'll see.

[sumner52000]

My co worker says fire hydrant wrench.

[Neals]

Superior Tool Co makes plumbing tools but I couldn't find anything similar to yours.

[skipskip]

Hydrants usually have 5 sided valves to keep yahoos from opening them.

that is one VERY cool wrench

Skip

[skipskip]

Oh, my guess is gas line work, from the oval slot at the end.

Skip

[mrchuck]

Gas meter cut-off, fire hydrant opener, and a spring loaded  adjustable monkey, painted RED,,,, tells me it is a Fire Dept wrench that goes to fire scenes with firemen.

[Papaw]

My son, the firefighter says it is not a hydrant wrench.

[keykeeper]

Definitely not fire hydrant, as it isn't long enough. I've turned one or two of those in my time as a vol. firefighter. Those stems can be stubborn to get broke loose. I've also broke a couple stems, due to the water dept. not servicing the valve as they should have allowing the stem to seize up.  They are also, as mentioned, pentagonal in shape to deter water thieves and vandals.

I'm in the gas line work group on this one, as the slot could very well be for turning off small meter valves. Still not sure what the small range jaws would be for, though.

[Wrenchmensch]

What was gas pipe made of, lead, copper, steel, or iron? 

[rusty]

The big stuff was cast iron, the little stuff was malliable iron , later steel.

The type of jaws on that wrench seem to me to be for turning rod, or bending something flat, they would make a mess out of pipe

[Wrenchmensch]

they would make a mess out of pipe

These jaws would not cut as deep as conventional pipe wrench jaws do.  The projections on this wrench's jaw faces is less than 1/64". Would they leave a shallow crosshatched pattern on a pipe or rod surface?  Probably.  If this wrench was intended for pipe use, the pipe's OD would have to be between something like 5/16" and 1/2" and that pretty small.

[Wrenchmensch]

Following is the response I got from the CEO of a sucker rod manufacturing company about this mystery wrench:

Mr. Wickes,

I can’t imagine how this wrench would be used with any modern configuration of sucker rods which are 5/8 through 1 1/8” inches in diameter.  However, sometime in the past ½” diameter rods were used and the wrench appears to function like a pipe wrench, so maybe it was used on early sucker rods.  Today, it would not be acceptable if it damages the surface of the rod.  Prior to all steel rods, wooden rods were used with steel ends for connecting them together. Again I can’t imagine using this wrench for the wooden ones either.  I am afraid I am not much help, but will ask around.


Bill Ridenour