« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Another one of my Strange Wrenches  (Read 4727 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline mikeswrenches

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2002
Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« on: January 04, 2013, 09:35:02 PM »
This little wrench with a 1/4 in. S.A.E opening on one end, and a 1/4 in. U.S.S opening on the other, has puzzled me ever since I acquired it in a box lot at a NY auction some years back.  The M T Co. apparently felt this was a worthwhile design as it would have cost them a fair amount of money making forging dies with the Patent date on one side and their name forged into the shank of the other side.

Along with not being able to find anything in Datamp or Google patents on the M T Co. patent date, I haven't been able to understand why the ends are tapered.  The taper appears to be part of the forging process, rather than an after the fact grinding of the taper.  My guess is that is an obstruction wrench of some kind, but what kind of obstruction.

The U.S.S. and S.A.E size marks would indicate manufacture prior to 1930.

Anybody have any ideas??

Mike
Logged
Check out my ETSY store at: OldeTymeTools

Offline HeelSpur

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2033
  • Contributor
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2013, 04:53:43 AM »
Are both ends angled like in the 4th pic?
Logged
RooK E

Offline mikeswrenches

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2002
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2013, 08:55:45 AM »
Good question.  Yes they are.

Mike
Logged
Check out my ETSY store at: OldeTymeTools

Offline rusty

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4345
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2013, 12:44:53 PM »
The logo belongs to Mechanics Tool Co, of Rockford Illinois, the folks who made the Eagle Claw (plier) wrenches....

I have seen that odd wrench before, but I can not find any matching patent on that date....

Logged
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline mikeswrenches

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2002
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2013, 03:13:11 PM »
Thanks Rusty, At least now I know who made it.  That may help me find the patent and the correct date.  Like you, I couldn't find anything under that date.

Mike
Logged
Check out my ETSY store at: OldeTymeTools

Offline amertrac

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1880
  • ny mountain man
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2013, 04:54:00 PM »
You could use it to pull large nails  bob w.
Logged
TO SOON ULD UND TO LATE SCHMART

Offline mikeswrenches

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2002
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2013, 06:51:10 PM »
Ya know, I never thought of that.  I could drive it under the nail and then smack the other end with a BFH...would probably put the nail into orbit. :)

Mike
Logged
Check out my ETSY store at: OldeTymeTools

Offline rusty

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4345
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2013, 07:40:29 AM »
You may not be all that far from the truth.....

The eagle claw pliers were supposedly for carriage bolts, under the heads of a carrage bolt is a square spot, that wrench may have been intended to get under the head and grab that spot to help unscrew it once it was loose.....(just an odd thought)
Logged
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline Branson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3643
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2013, 08:08:17 AM »
Quote from: rusty on January 06, 2013, 07:40:29 AM
You may not be all that far from the truth.....

The eagle claw pliers were supposedly for carriage bolts, under the heads of a carrage bolt is a square spot, that wrench may have been intended to get under the head and grab that spot to help unscrew it once it was loose.....(just an odd thought)

I could have used these more than once!  Maybe the next time I need one, I can grind down one of those Sri Lanka or Taiwan wrenches to do the job.
Logged

Offline couchspring

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 62
  • council bluffs,iowa
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2013, 02:01:14 PM »
 Blackhawk Wedg-Head
Logged

Offline Bus

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 734
    • The Wrenchingnews
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2013, 04:13:01 PM »
Enders made similar wrenches marked with patent dates of Jan, 11. 1921 and Oct. 11, 1921.
I could only find the October patent.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=38pYAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

Like couchspring noted Blackhawk also made the same style. Patent No. 2,687,056 was granted on Aug. 24, 1954. Alloy Artifacts states that they also made some for Snap-On.

http://www.google.com/patents/US2687056?dq=patent:2687056&hl=en

Consistently I am researching these types of wrenches for a patent case and would be interested in purchasing any MT Co., Enders, Blackhawk, and other tapered end wrenches for examples.








« Last Edit: January 07, 2013, 04:16:21 PM by Bus »
Logged

Offline jimwrench

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1803
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2013, 02:21:23 PM »
 Heres a Blackhawk Wedg-head of the pat pend era. EW-1009. Guessing early 50's production. Little peening on opening edges otherwise good shape.

Bus, if its of interest to you its available.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2013, 02:25:03 PM by jimwrench »
Logged
Jim
Mr. Dollarwrench

Offline scooter

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2013, 07:38:33 PM »
Interesting thread.   My contribution shows a Snap-on wrench of the same "wedge" style.   I picked this up somewhere a while back, and have been wondering what its purpose was. It is PN S-1820W if someone has a catelog showing it.    Anyone know what these unusual wrenches were used for?   It seems many manufacturers made these once upon a time.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2013, 07:41:55 PM by scooter »
Logged

Offline wrenchguy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 480
  • I like odd old stuff, especially mechanical.
    • Wrenchguys videos
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2013, 07:57:15 PM »
from what i got from the patent abstract is its for tight places, even holding the nut at a minimum engagement. (thinest thickness)
Logged

Offline rusty

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4345
Re: Another one of my Strange Wrenches
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2013, 09:07:28 PM »

Hmm, well, learned something, happens sometimes..

Looking at the October patent, that wrench is termed an 'End Wrench'
Looking at related patents, an 'End Wrench' is a specific type of wrench, a wrench with a means for attaching itself to the 'end' of a bolt+nut, or simply, the nut, so you can futz with the end you are screwing in without the second wrench falling off ....

Most of the designs have some kind of clamp, weird that the tapered one is referred to as an 'End Wrench'  and doesn't...
Logged
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »