Cheapening the Indian Motocycle Monkey Wrenches, or Not

[Wrenchmensch]

I picked up two Indian "Motocycle" monkey wrenches some time ago.  Both wrenches have the Moore Drop Forging Company "M" boss on them, although only one of the M's is circled. Hendee Manufacturing Company that made the Indians was located in Springfield, MA the same as Moore so it is not surprising that Moore made these wrenches. 

I have known that one of these wrenches was more heavily built than the other. Today, I weighed the wrenches.  The top one weighed 12.4 ozs., the lower one weighed 9.7 ozs. - nearly a 28% difference.  The lower one has a smaller lower jaw with a cutout or chip out at the rear corner, a thinner arch on the fixed jaw, a smaller shroud, a smaller adjusting screw, and a thinner handle.  I don't know when the changes to the wrench were made, or why. 

I would be interested in hearing from you all about what happened to cause the changes in these wrenches. Was the wrench cheapened, or did adverse experience with a less massive wrench necessitate offering a heavier wrench? 

[rusty]

The uncircled M could be Manzel....

[Papaw]

Different maker- possibly a cost-cutting measure.

[Wrenchmensch]

"The uncircled M could be Manzel..."

Got any more on Manzel, Rusty?

[Bus]

The Ford tool collectors are convinced the M without circle logo is Manzel. I have never seen any proof.

[BRwrench]

Here is some information I have dug up on Manzel:

Manzel Brothers Company was founded in 1898 in Buffalo, New York.

There were three brothers: H.J. Manzel (pres. and treas.), Adolf W. F. Manzel (sec.), and Charles W. Manzel.

They started out manufacturing automatic lubricators for steam cylinder engines and then gas engines and compressors. (Also diesel engine lubricators) (Oil pumps) (Force-fed lubricators)

Adolf and Charles had several patents issued to them. Several for lubricators, but they also had patents for other items, here are just a few:



Adolf W.F. Manzel of Manzel Brothers

Patented Nov 12, 1929, patent #1,735,769 STABILIZER (shock absorber for motor vehicles)



Charles W Manzel

-Manzel gasoline and oil key for Fords

-Leaf spring lubricating tool, Patent # 1,201,324, filing date Nov. 11 1915, issue date Oct. 17 1916.



I found several addresses for the Manzel Brothers Company. They are all on Babcock Street, Buffalo, New York. The street address numbers were from 300-302, 315, 317-319, 320, 327, 329-331. It looks like they may have taken up a whole block.

I found one reference to Charles Manzel having his own company at 309 Beard Ave. Buffalo, N.Y.

I have a Manzel catalog from 1939 listing Ford service Tools. This catalog lists 315 Babcock Street, Buffalo N.Y. as their address.

[Wrenchmensch]

Do any of the catalog pictures show the plain 'M" boss?

[BRwrench]

Do any of the catalog pictures show the plain 'M" boss?

I can't see any.