Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
INTRO...
Two weeks ago I found an antique “FITZ-ALL” adjustable wrench at the flea market and just last week I found a “H and E” (pronounced “Handy”). Those finds got me thinking categorically about these types of wrenches as a collecting niche unto itself, and that sent me rummaging around through my various cubbies and drawers and bins.
Here is a group shot of all the wrenches I own that have an adjustable, dynamic jaw that isn’t moved by a typical thumb-screw attached to a threaded rod or a worm-gear attached to a worm-drive..., as all more common screw, monkey, auto, and pipe wrenches have.
Here’s a little chart I made out of that photo to quickly ID the wrenches.
And here are some profiles - in age before beauty order - of each wrench…
Baxter patent 84,605 (1868)
These Double Open End wrenches were made and sold initially by the inventor out of Newark, NJ, and then Tower & Lyon, Greene, Tweed & Co, E. C. Stearns, and many others as the rights were licensed out. It is an ingenious design. The wrench is made of two halves, mortised, and joined together by a left- and right-hand screw-rod. The halves do not move independently of each other, they move synchronously in opposite directions like machinists’ parallels. Further GJ reading here.
Boynton patent 364,749 (1887)
These adjustable “Alligator” type wrenches, with one pipe and one nut jaw, were made and sold by the Campbell Printing Press & Mfg Company, NY, NY. Tightening that wedge-shaped nut on the threaded rod literally forces the jaws of this wrench shut. Loosening the wedge-nut has no effect on the jaws, which must be manually re-opened. For further reading, see additional photos and information posted in a prior GJ thread linked here.
Tripp patent 587,624 (1897)
This combination adjustable wrench, alligator wrench, spoke ****** grip, and screwdriver tool was made and sold as the “The Best Wrench” by the Best Wrench Company of Chicago and also placed by Sears, Roebuck & Co into the toolkits they supplied with their deluxe bicycles. It opens and closes using lever action. The capacity is 1/16" to 1-1/4”. Further GJ reading here.
Taylor patent D48,996 (1916), Larson patents 1,602,620 (1926), 1,830,033 (1931)
Made initially by Cochran as the “SPEEDNUT” wrench, and later, by the SPEEDNUT Wrench Corp (Chicago), Chicago Manufacturing & Distribution, and others, the jaws on these amazing wrenches are opened and closed by gravity (just turn the wrench over one way or another) and rack and pinion components inside the housing. Further GJ reading here.
Lynch & Mead patents 1,533,602 (1925), 1,735,257 (1929), 1,885,616 (1932), and 2,028,406 (1936)
These may likely be the most recognizable wrench in the lot, because the design has had innumerable modern knock-offs still being produced today in the US, Europe, and Asia. The originals were made and sold by a company called Lynchmead (a portmanteau of the last names of the inventors and original manufacturers), in Turlock, CA, then by Masterench (assuming the name of the wrench for better brand identity), and finally by Heller Brothers (and still branded “Masterench”), who knew a great idea when they saw one – buying the company, patent, and rights. It uses a simple steel leaf spring to provide tension on a dynamic jaw, which self-adjusts to the size of the nut it is grasping. Further GJ reading here.
Zilliox patent 1,639,831 (1927)
Made and sold as the “XCEL Adjustable Socket Wrench” by Park Metalware, Orchard Park, NY, (a company you may more readily recognize by their later name, Xcelite, of nut driver fame), the jaws on these wrenches are opened and closed by twisting the hollow handle left or right, turning the concealed shaft-screw inside. Further GJ reading here.
Fisher patent 1,712,427 (1929)
Made by Bonney Forge and Tool (Part No. 2550), in Allentown, PA, this adjustable socket wrench uses an internal pin-and-slot mechanism the inventor had been working on since 1923. Earlier patents used spring-bearing lugs (1,554,963) and tongue and groove (1,554,965). The two jaws will move continuously in and out when turned in either direction with a ratchet, sliding tee, flex head or any handle with a male 1/2” drive stud until it meets resistance from a nut, self-adjusting to any size from 3/8” to 9/16”. Further GJ reading here.
Two weeks ago I found an antique “FITZ-ALL” adjustable wrench at the flea market and just last week I found a “H and E” (pronounced “Handy”). Those finds got me thinking categorically about these types of wrenches as a collecting niche unto itself, and that sent me rummaging around through my various cubbies and drawers and bins.
Here is a group shot of all the wrenches I own that have an adjustable, dynamic jaw that isn’t moved by a typical thumb-screw attached to a threaded rod or a worm-gear attached to a worm-drive..., as all more common screw, monkey, auto, and pipe wrenches have.
Here’s a little chart I made out of that photo to quickly ID the wrenches.
And here are some profiles - in age before beauty order - of each wrench…
Baxter patent 84,605 (1868)
These Double Open End wrenches were made and sold initially by the inventor out of Newark, NJ, and then Tower & Lyon, Greene, Tweed & Co, E. C. Stearns, and many others as the rights were licensed out. It is an ingenious design. The wrench is made of two halves, mortised, and joined together by a left- and right-hand screw-rod. The halves do not move independently of each other, they move synchronously in opposite directions like machinists’ parallels. Further GJ reading here.
Boynton patent 364,749 (1887)
These adjustable “Alligator” type wrenches, with one pipe and one nut jaw, were made and sold by the Campbell Printing Press & Mfg Company, NY, NY. Tightening that wedge-shaped nut on the threaded rod literally forces the jaws of this wrench shut. Loosening the wedge-nut has no effect on the jaws, which must be manually re-opened. For further reading, see additional photos and information posted in a prior GJ thread linked here.
Tripp patent 587,624 (1897)
This combination adjustable wrench, alligator wrench, spoke ****** grip, and screwdriver tool was made and sold as the “The Best Wrench” by the Best Wrench Company of Chicago and also placed by Sears, Roebuck & Co into the toolkits they supplied with their deluxe bicycles. It opens and closes using lever action. The capacity is 1/16" to 1-1/4”. Further GJ reading here.
Taylor patent D48,996 (1916), Larson patents 1,602,620 (1926), 1,830,033 (1931)
Made initially by Cochran as the “SPEEDNUT” wrench, and later, by the SPEEDNUT Wrench Corp (Chicago), Chicago Manufacturing & Distribution, and others, the jaws on these amazing wrenches are opened and closed by gravity (just turn the wrench over one way or another) and rack and pinion components inside the housing. Further GJ reading here.
Lynch & Mead patents 1,533,602 (1925), 1,735,257 (1929), 1,885,616 (1932), and 2,028,406 (1936)
These may likely be the most recognizable wrench in the lot, because the design has had innumerable modern knock-offs still being produced today in the US, Europe, and Asia. The originals were made and sold by a company called Lynchmead (a portmanteau of the last names of the inventors and original manufacturers), in Turlock, CA, then by Masterench (assuming the name of the wrench for better brand identity), and finally by Heller Brothers (and still branded “Masterench”), who knew a great idea when they saw one – buying the company, patent, and rights. It uses a simple steel leaf spring to provide tension on a dynamic jaw, which self-adjusts to the size of the nut it is grasping. Further GJ reading here.
Zilliox patent 1,639,831 (1927)
Made and sold as the “XCEL Adjustable Socket Wrench” by Park Metalware, Orchard Park, NY, (a company you may more readily recognize by their later name, Xcelite, of nut driver fame), the jaws on these wrenches are opened and closed by twisting the hollow handle left or right, turning the concealed shaft-screw inside. Further GJ reading here.
Fisher patent 1,712,427 (1929)
Made by Bonney Forge and Tool (Part No. 2550), in Allentown, PA, this adjustable socket wrench uses an internal pin-and-slot mechanism the inventor had been working on since 1923. Earlier patents used spring-bearing lugs (1,554,963) and tongue and groove (1,554,965). The two jaws will move continuously in and out when turned in either direction with a ratchet, sliding tee, flex head or any handle with a male 1/2” drive stud until it meets resistance from a nut, self-adjusting to any size from 3/8” to 9/16”. Further GJ reading here.
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