four.cycle
Well-known member
^ About a month soaking in Kroil should get it loosened up.
The Ancient and Independent Order of Oddfellows (Adjustables, that is...)
- Thread starter Private Lugnutz
- Start date
I finally stumbled upon an “oddfellow” that has been on my want-list for a while - a “Wizard” ratcheting adjustable wrench manufactured by The Richards Mfg. Co. of Aurora, Illinois. It has adjustable jaws built into the head and is stamped on the face with "Patented May 21, '07" and "Other Pats Pending". It’s in great working condition, and honestly it is fun just to play with. I see @Oregon rock crusher recently picked one up too.
Attachments
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I was just watching one of those on Eprey. Didn't bid...
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Oddfellow or Gimmick?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I don't think it was a gimmick in the age of square head nuts and bolts.
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I found this pipe wrench at the flea market, paid too much but WTH, why not.
Looked at this entire post and unless I missed it this should be a first of this particular wrench. It has a series of teeth on the spring loaded catch and the main arm of the wrench. Similar to some others here but with a different jaw loading setup.
Looked at this entire post and unless I missed it this should be a first of this particular wrench. It has a series of teeth on the spring loaded catch and the main arm of the wrench. Similar to some others here but with a different jaw loading setup.
Attachments
Found the patent,
US Patent: 274,544 - Wrench
US patent 274,544 Wrench was issued to Frank Armstrong of Bridgeport, CT. It was granted on 03/27/1883. This quick-adjust pipe wrench is based on Dan P. Foster's Dec. 9, 1879 patent (No. {222,484}). It uses a slide with a spring-loaded pawl instead of a
www.datamp.org
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
You're correct. It is a first. Good example of a quick-adjust. Nice find!
Please edit your post to include the patent number and patentee's name. I could do it right here in this one and direct future viewers to your post, but it's better for you to fo it. The search engine will not find it inside the DATAMP link.
Please edit your post to include the patent number and patentee's name. I could do it right here in this one and direct future viewers to your post, but it's better for you to fo it. The search engine will not find it inside the DATAMP link.
US Patent: 274,544 - patented by Frank Armstrong of Bridgeport Connecticut on 3/27/1883
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Not looking to add to my pipe wrench count, but this ratcheting pipe wrench was too odd to leave behind;
The ratchet drives a gear to close the jaws and tighten them, bit also can be used, within limits, to ratchet on the turning of the pipe. the pipe itself, unless gripping a fitting below handle level, limits things before a full turn happens.
As noted by LS in the GS thread the finger grips seem bass akwards.
No makers marks., but A Google search ferreted up one NIP larked Lehigh international and same model no.:
The ratchet drives a gear to close the jaws and tighten them, bit also can be used, within limits, to ratchet on the turning of the pipe. the pipe itself, unless gripping a fitting below handle level, limits things before a full turn happens.
As noted by LS in the GS thread the finger grips seem bass akwards.
No makers marks., but A Google search ferreted up one NIP larked Lehigh international and same model no.:
Last edited:
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
@Mister Ed just found and posted one on the pipe wrenches thread a couple weeks ago, here, pointing out that the "RP-070" marking is often mistaken for "PROTO". If one is slightly dyslexic and/or the type of person who doesn't pay attention to detail, or is in a hurry, or both, I can actually see that happening.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Thx Lugz! cross posted mine, and asked "who will find #3?"
alinc100
Well-known member
A Bullard no. 0 “automatic” wrench, patented October 27, 1903. The company went out of business in 1909. It also manufactured a no. 1, no. 2 and no. 3, up to 17.3” in length. This one is only 5 1/2” in length.
A Helix 8” stainless steel quick adjust wrench in really good condition (made by Petersen Tool Co.). Works perfectly. @HeelSpur has one upthread.
A Helix 8” stainless steel quick adjust wrench in really good condition (made by Petersen Tool Co.). Works perfectly. @HeelSpur has one upthread.
Attachments
Last edited:
Bullard also made a #4, 19 1/2".
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Nice find! One of the "Oddfellows" (not screw or worm gear) that is still on my bucket list...
Kind of cool of any mfgr, but them, in particular, on top of the vise grip pyramid, to be working on a better
Indeed, and for those wondering about the mechanism, I posted the patent diagram in reply to his. It's very complex (spiral shaft and TWO bevel gears!)
The Ancient and Independent Order of Oddfellows (Adjustables, that is...)
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...
www.garagejournal.com
Outlawmws
Well-known member
If that works like I think it does, I have a later Asian knock off that I put into SWMBO's little tool kit as I cannot imagine its very tolerant of shop dirt/grit. I only got it for its oddness.
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
A fine, threadly, motto-worthy sentiment!
r_olson_06
Well-known member
Baxter!
Beerhippie
Well-known member
^WTF?
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Nice find, Roy!
It's hard to see in that photo, but the wrench is actually made in halves, mortised together, with each half having one of the two jaws on each end. The diagonal adjuster moves both halves (and therefore both jaws) at the same time in equidistance away or closer.
Baxter designed, made, and licensed (to Greene, Tweed & Co., and a few others) TWO styles of these wrenches: this one, which has 22-1/2* angles, and an adjustable "S" wrench - which moved the adjuster into the center of the shank. The principle and two-halves construction are easier to see on the other style.
If you search the thread on "Baxter" you will find other examples of both styles (I have two "S" wrenches, different OAL's) and somewhere a post from @Fred Knox showing both styles in the same photo.
Making things even more confusing and harder to discuss when "Baxter" comes up is that there were two production periods. He "improved" (and extended the protection of) the design and was granted a second set of patents for each type a couple decades later.
While we have touched on this all before, your question presents a good opportunity to do it more comprehensively, which can serve as a handy link for next time it comes up.
DATAMP link to that marked up page here...
Last edited:
