Unique wrench, but what's it for?

rusty · January 22, 2012, 03:24:16 PM

between something like 5/16" and 1/2"

Like..perhaps a broken valve stem? with a hex for taking out the packing nut?
hmm.....

Wrenchmensch · January 22, 2012, 05:01:07 PM

I put the wrench jaws on a piece of unused 1/3" copper pipe. It left only a small trace marking on the pipe. The jaw surfaces feel kind of like shark's skin.

At this point, I have written to Superior Tool Company, and they are looking to see if this is one of their tools from long ago. I also wrote to the Plumbers Union to see what they can tell me.

Wrenchmensch · January 23, 2012, 01:37:33 PM

Another tool-expert friend (not on Tool Talk) weighed in with this:

"That might be an in-house fire equipment wrench for dealing with a variety of water pipe-gas pipe lines. The color suggests that and the special (non-sparking tooth inserts?) aluminum (?)* also point that way. Otherwise, no clue from me!"

*The jaw pieces were tested with a magnet, and they are ferromagnetic.

Wrenchmensch · January 23, 2012, 04:19:17 PM

Here is the response from the IAPMO:

WOW,

what a cool wrench! Based on the types of openings- the square and the slotted end it looks like a wrench the fire dept. would use to open the different fire plugs. The older type of fire plugs and the new ones have this type of openings. AND the end looks like it can turn the valve on gas lines too. Looking at the spring opening at the jaw it looks like a speed/quick release wrench as well. I could be wrong but maybe 50+ years old, and quite possibly 100.

keykeeper · January 23, 2012, 05:02:00 PM

Sprinkler heads maybe....... I have yet to see a hydrant with a hex nut. I'll never accept that it will fit a pentagonal hydrant stem or cap. I think whoever wrote you back sniffed a little too much "pipe dope" before they responded.

Wrenchmensch · January 23, 2012, 05:46:54 PM

I've got sprinkler head wrenches. They don't look anything like this wrench. (See below).

john k · January 23, 2012, 10:56:41 PM

How about a stove installers wrench. For changing out gas ranges, needed the slot to turn the gas valve, and basically one size jaws for the iron collar, on the pipe?

Wrenchmensch · January 24, 2012, 03:18:28 PM

John K.

I will try stove installers next to see if they recognize this wrench. Meanwhile, I got the following from the CEO of the Superior Tool Company:

We are unsure exactly of what this wrench is either. We do know that it was not one of ours. We think it might be for an old farm implement. I saw a few wrenches with the hex shaped opening and some other square openings on the internet, but nothing exactly like this one with the spring loaded lever. There was a company called Lake Superior Wrench Company that produced the types below, but I couldn't find anything exactly like yours. They started in Michigan and eventually moved to Iowa, the heart of farm equipment country. Maybe this could steer you in the right direction.

We are now very curious what it is also. We thought that you might know more about the Lake Superior Wrench Company than we do. If you do eventually find out what this was used for we would love to know.

Thank you, Ted

Bus · January 24, 2012, 06:17:57 PM

I think I have seen a couple of these at the early wrench auctions at York, NE when Tom Bailey was having them.

MJD had one on one of his auctions last year.

http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/i11/a254530.htm

If I ever knew what they are for I have forgotten. But i don't think it was a fire hydrant wrench, a farm equipment wrench, A Lake Superior Wrench Co of Sault Ste Marie, Mich. product, a Superior Wrench Company Marshalltown, Iowa product or 100 years old. I will ask a few friends.

Bus · January 25, 2012, 01:01:27 AM

Stan Schulz replied to my email and said two Wrench Club members have asked for information on this wrench in the last several years but he doesn't have a clue.

If I had to venture a guess I would agree with Rusty and say some kind of valve wrench.

Wrenchmensch · January 25, 2012, 05:06:55 PM

I now believe this wrench is fairly unidentifiable!

rusty · January 25, 2012, 08:24:28 PM

LOL...so...how much hair do you have left now?

Want some more unprovable theories?

Wrench for installing headless concrete anchors...cept I can't find one like it...

Wrench for straightening harrows or plows..Cept no one has ever made one so fancy...

Wrench for removing stuck drill bits (rock drilling) ...cept it is missing a cross wedge...
(and I don't see that anyone ever made such a wrench for sale, they all seem to be shop made)

The S in an H logo is another thing.....nada....why? It's a well made wrench, by someone who knew how to make it, so why doesn't anyone seem to have that wrench mark?

hmm

Rhoderman · January 29, 2012, 08:50:26 AM

Superior makes windmills.
Windmill sucker rods are usually 5/16 or 3/8 dia if I remember right.
The hex nuts usually get rounded off, but I think they started out as 1/2" hex.
I would have painted it a bright color so I wouldn't lose it.
Cool old wrench though.

geneg · January 29, 2012, 10:47:25 AM

(Dayton) Superior Symons concrete wall forming systems..logo is S in a hex or squarish S.
Hex opening is used to tighten coil bolts & coupling nuts.

Plier front is used to snap off wall ties.

Other slots and openings are for flat ties, wedges, etc.

Bus · January 29, 2012, 07:29:09 PM

I think geneg has got it right. The logo on the wrench doesn't look like the "S" in a square but it may be the logo for the actual manufacturer of the wrench not Dayton-Symons-Superior.

I searched for Symons wrench on the internet but didn't come up with anything for this wrench but did find a similar tool (see picture) that I have listed as a What's Its in a couple of Wrenching News Auctions. It has also been in the Missouri Valley Wrench Club Newsletter at least once, submitted by a member unsuccessfully requesting information.

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Unique wrench, but what's it for?