Whitman and Barnes Manufacturing Company (W&B diamond) tool pictures
- Thread starter Shelbylex
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Private Lugnutz
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Vlchek. I have several. Many of their Auto wrenches are marked "Auto", in all sizes. These are not at all uncommon.
AntiqueBen
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Another big
I've noticed most of all auto wrenches seem to either be 9" or "11" with the exception of a few 12" examples out there. The W&B Auto Wrench is 10".
Private Lugnutz
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9- and 11-inches are the most common, but there are 15-inchers out there, too. I have a few. They were specified in a few WWII sets.
AntiqueBen
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That's a project I'd like to do is put together a WWII set. I didn't know there are 15 inchers out there. Good to know.
AntiqueBen
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I'm going to continue to research this W&B Auto Wrench. I'd like to figure out when it was first released. I'm still shocked at the weight of this thing. I would guess it's at least twice the weight of a standard 11" auto wrench. It's one of those things you don't realize until you hold it in your hands 
AntiqueBen
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I refer to the sticky quite often now. I appreciate your effort in putting that together & keeping it current. Is there a thread specific to "Auto Wrenches"? I see the Auto Kit Type Wrenches. I'm wandering if a specific thread on just Auto Wrench types would reveal some cool examples that's hiding out there.
Private Lugnutz
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No, they have typically gotten posted by brand.
four.cycle
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Private Lugnutz said:
Of course!
I based that statement on what I see cruising through ebay listings - "auto wrench", "bicycle wrench", "monkey wrench", "adjustable wrench" are all misused and abused - all confused with something else.
Private Lugnutz
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That's to be expected, though, right? Most sellers are wildly misinformed, underinformed, or just don't care. We were talking about the historical terminology. As the type of wrench emerged with the vehicles that gave them their name, Coes resorted to sarcasm and bombast. W&B literally reclassifying an all-steel monkey wrench as an "Auto" wrench is an interesting and seemingly unique approach, and a neat wrench to own as an example of a trying time for older tool makers struggling to keep up.
four.cycle
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^ I think most ebay sellers are retirees just tryin' to pick up a few extra bucks. Not really that many sellers on ebay who deal exclusively with tools when you consider the total number of people peddling stuff there.
I've also seen them called "Ford wrench" on ebay as well. It will be interesting to see what turns up in Ben's new thread.
I was looking at Craigslist a couple days ago and came across a listing for a mess of "railroad wrenches". Go figure.
I've also seen them called "Ford wrench" on ebay as well. It will be interesting to see what turns up in Ben's new thread.
I was looking at Craigslist a couple days ago and came across a listing for a mess of "railroad wrenches". Go figure.
Provincial
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"Off in the weeds."
Be sure to tell us the gauge of your auto wrenches!
(Inside joke.)
Be sure to tell us the gauge of your auto wrenches!
(Inside joke.)
This Whitman & Barnes No. 674C "S" wrench looks like it's never been used. The catalog page is from W & B catalog 92 from 1917, as found in the ITCL. Thanks @Mark Stansbury ! This wrench looks different from the catalog page. Does it look like a more recent example?
Two Whitman & Barnes monkeys. The 8" steel-handled is pure W & B, and the 8 1/2" wooden-handled appears to be another transitional-period wrench (W&B toJ H Williams). The wood handled wrench really does measure 8 1/2", but the photo makes it appear to be 9".
It's always a good day to stumble onto anything Whitman & Barnes. It's an even better day to find a big honkin' W&B Double Head Engineer's Wrench size 44 in such good condition. Most of these old beasts present in the same manner: the commonly-used end is splayed across the flats from over-exertion, with the other, less-used end pounded AF from the "tightening-sledge". Somehow, this W&B 44 escaped with a charmed life. It quite possibly has never worked a day in its life.
four.cycle
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That’s a beauty.
Whitman & Barnes "ACME" 6-inch adjustable wrench (patent 273170 Feb 27 1883 Frederick H. Seymour)
Looking at some of the pictures here of catalogs. It seems that this is a bulldog wrench around 1915…
SigO found this Whitman & Barnes No. 0 “Bull Dog” Wrench the same time she found the Perfect Handle Wrench so it misplaced itself because it was being ignored, probably.
Williams, after acquiring W & B's Wrench Operation, referred to it as a Pocket Size.
Williams, after acquiring W & B's Wrench Operation, referred to it as a Pocket Size.
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Beerhippie
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Or Whitworth....
RTM
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Measure your openings. If they don't match the marked size, @Beerhippie might be on the right path.
Mintgrun
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I brought this little <W&B> #70 DOE home yesterday. I thought it was a Williams wrench, until I got it cleaned up. The pitting was full of fluffy-rust, but electrolysis fizzed it away. Apparently, Williams bought out W&B and the owner became the new Williams VP. (according to what I read on AA... or, what I remember of it anyway).
I like these hefty old square gullet wrenches. Is this a check nut wrench, or a tool post wrench, or something else?
Tom
I like these hefty old square gullet wrenches. Is this a check nut wrench, or a tool post wrench, or something else?
Tom
I think it is a "set screw" wrench.
Today we think most often of set screws as below the surface with usually a hex socket for an allen wrench.
In days of yore, set screws often protruded above the surface and had a square head. A lathe tool post is an example.