Who made the best vintage adjustable wrenches?

[d42jeep]

Nice one, Bill!
-Don

 

[misterbill]

Nice one, Bill!
-Don

Thanks. Now I need a wrecker, tank, ??? to use it on! Wonder if it was part of a vehicle set or just one of the upper echelon tools. (The opening size itself - 2-9/32 - intrigues me. There must have been a rusty 2-1/4 nut somewhere that it was destined to be used on!)

 

[dchawk81]

I can tell you which ones NOT to buy. Jobsmart. I have one that doesn't even roll. How that's even possible is beyond me.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. Now I need a wrecker, tank, ??? to use it on! Wonder if it was part of a vehicle set or just one of the upper echelon tools. (The opening size itself - 2-9/32 - intrigues me. There must have been a rusty 2-1/4 nut somewhere that it was destined to be used on!)

It doesn’t appear in the July, 1945 ORD 6 SNL G27 that shows the sets. Might show up in an earlier one. It’s very rare to see an adjustable wrench with a FSN.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It doesn’t appear in the July, 1945 ORD 6 SNL G27 that shows the sets.

The sets in the ORD 6 SNL G27 are only those issued to specialists' (General Mechanic, Welder, Machinist, etc) and those intended for common use by all mechanics and specialists at 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th echelon maintenance depots. Bill's 18-incher could've been issued to an on-board tool-kit, like the 8" adjustable in the jeep kits, before it was removed in 1943. Based on the OAL and capacity, probably one of the larger trucks.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wonder if it was part of a vehicle set

That would be my guess. I don't think the Dodge 2.5 Ton emergency wrecker kit (Bonney based) or the Diamond T/PC&F 40-ton M25 "Dragon Wagon" (tank transporter) kit (Blackhawk based) had one, but I will double check. EDIT: Nope. No adjustables. Just big *** wrenches.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this 12” Diamond adjustable wrench at an estate sale yesterday. It is newer than Diamond Calk and Duluth isn’t mentioned, just USA. What is odd to me is that the depressed panel runs clear up to the adjuster on one side but not the other.
A little cleaner.
No hammering and no extensions kind of takes the fun out of it!
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What is odd to me is that the depressed panel runs clear up to the adjuster on one side but not the other.

I don't know where that feature started (i.e., Europe or here), or when, exactly, but it's not present on prewar, wartime, or immediate postwar vintage US-made adjustables, Don. I see several examples of that design on Crescent and Snap-on wrenches on this thread, but they are all relatively modern. Unfortunately, they are only shown on one side, not the flip side. I do have a BAHCO like that. I am assuming that is the side where the tool wants the adjusting thumb to be placed on the adjusting screw, with the static jaw up, dynamic jaw down.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Another feature is the arrow showing the proper way to turn the handle. You don't see that on older models, presumably dating from when "everybody knew" how to turn an adjustable wrench. (The splayed jaws on many? most? auto wrenches show that not everybody knew how to use them.)

As an antiquarian interest, when did these arrows start to appear on wrenches? My uninformed hunch is that it's fairly recent — last 5 or 10 years — but I could easily be wrong by decades.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I just went out and checked my 12 and 15-inch Diamonds and neither have the depressed panel going all the way up to the adjustment wheel or any arrows or any mention of hammering. Can't find the other 12-incher right now I've misplaced it somewhere.

 

[d42jeep]

Another feature is the arrow showing the proper way to turn the handle. You don't see that on older models, presumably dating from when "everybody knew" how to turn an adjustable wrench. (The splayed jaws on many? most? auto wrenches show that not everybody knew how to use them.)

As an antiquarian interest, when did these arrows start to appear on wrenches? My uninformed hunch is that it's fairly recent — last 5 or 10 years — but I could easily be wrong by decades.

According to AA around 1983. Here is a picture from their site.
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

What is odd to me is that the depressed panel runs clear up to the adjuster on one side but not the other.

I don't recall ever having seen one where the panel is different on each side like that.

 

[d42jeep]

I don't recall ever having seen one where the panel is different on each side like that.

I didn’t remember seeing that either so I checked a couple of Diamond adjustable wrenches with the depressed panels that I had on hand and they were the same from side to side.
6”
Green Handle 10”
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

Another feature is the arrow showing the proper way to turn the handle. when did these arrows start to appear on wrenches?

These are undoubtedly 'The Best Adjustable Wrenches', in my opinion!
They all have the arrows on the handles.
The 6" is dated 1983, the 10" is 1985 and the 8" is 1995. They were all bought new off the van, and have some hard use in my farm workshop ever since. They haven't been abused, hammered upon or extended but many times they have turned something I just couldn't get with other tools and I have exerted all my strength upon them. The jaws have not spread or deformed, just some nicks and the chrome is worn off on the inside of the jaws. Nobody else is ever allowed to even touch them.

 

[Farmer J.]

I see my 10" made in 1985 has 'Patent Pending' on it.
I wonder what on earth that particular patent could be for The wrench is a fairly well known design!
Could it perhaps be for including the little arrows indicating the correct direction to turn it?

The 8" also has patent pending, but that was a fresh new design at that time, with the teeth in the jaws.

 

[Plastikosmd]

My 2 shop favorites


B+C is just a pleasure, no slop. Note the thumb wheel and number of teeth engaged. The Crescent tools Co. is also a fantastic wrench

 

[consti2tion]

These are undoubtedly 'The Best Adjustable Wrenches', in my opinion!
They all have the arrows on the handles.
The 6" is dated 1983, the 10" is 1985 and the 8" is 1995. They were all bought new off the van, and have some hard use in my farm workshop ever since. They haven't been abused, hammered upon or extended but many times they have turned something I just couldn't get with other tools and I have exerted all my strength upon them. The jaws have not spread or deformed, just some nicks and the chrome is worn off on the inside of the jaws. Nobody else is ever allowed to even touch them.

I have to agree, they are the best in my opinion. I use an 8" and a 10" almost daily at work. My employer supplies tools for us but I found some of these on ebay years back and spent the money out of my own pocket. I also have an 8" and 10" I use at home, along with about 10+ other various brands and sizes but I always grab the Snappies first.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Note the thumb wheel and number of teeth engaged.

First thing that caught my eye! All my antique adjustables (full set of Westcott "S" minus the 4-incher, H.D. Smith, and a B&C) have a much "finer" mechanism (higher tooth and thumb wheel rib count) than even the oldest vintage adjustable (early J.P. Danielson). Among classic era vintage adjustables, if you compare examples of J.P. Danielson, Crescent and Diamalloy of the same OAL, you will find the BET'R GRIP mechanism to be a tad finer, but all of them, and all modern iterations, cruder in comparison to the antiques.

I see my 10" made in 1985 has 'Patent Pending' on it.
I wonder what on earth that particular patent could be for...

I don't know, but I did notice that all three of your wrenches have different throats. The 10-incher is square, the 8-incher is hex, and the 6-incher is basin. I'm not suggesting that's related to the patent. Seems unlikely. Just making an observation.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My new entry for this thread, found yesterday at the flea, is not a question of best or even better, let alone good, so much as who the heck is it?

The problem isn't finding a "TEMCO", it's finding too many!

There was the Texas Engineering and Manufacturing Company, a spinoff of the Texas Division of North American Aviation, providing manufacturing services for Fairchild, Boeing, Lockheed, USAF and USN, and later, making their own aircraft, officially TEMCO Aircraft Company later. But there was also a very formidable TEMCO Electric Motor Company making shock absorbers, portable drills, other tools and other "automobile and garage necessities." The former was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1946, the latter was operating in Leipsig, Ohio from 1913 through 1927.

There is also a TEMCO Industrial that is currently in operation making pumps, crimpers, flaring tools, punches, etc, and although I am uncertain of their history, I doubt it's theirs.

Its features are so generic and the markings so excessive, I really have no good guess on the OEM or the age, but the finish (worn cad) smacks of early.

Despite it being "HARDENED" and "TEMPERED" and its "QUALITY" being "GUARANTEED" with a "TENSILE STRENTH" of "400 LBS / INCH," someone put an oh so slight bend in it. Someone also whittled the jaws down to a thinner nose.

FOAK for me and, unless the search function has failed me, FOAK on GJ.

 

[JAYoung]

Still tight after a century of abuse:

 

[Leviton]

Found a brand I haven't seen in the wild before today and I brought it home.

Markings on the wrench are:
"8 In. NYE WAYNE U.S.A."
"Forged NYE WAYNE Alloy"
With a "B" forge mark.

We don't seem to have a lot of discussion about Nye Wayne on here. All I could find was this: post from Vintage S-K Tools thread

 

[JunkNstuf]

Still tight after a century of abuse:

Yup, they're great.
Here's a 12 & 15" I've had for decades.

 

[JunkNstuf]

Both of these have seen a lot of use & served me well. Not sure how common that Chapman is ...but I have two.

 

[Leviton]

As tool collecting serendipity sometimes goes, only a few weeks after finding the adjustable wrench that is 3 posts above, I come across this identical wrench only with an ACE HARDWARE name instead of Nye Wayne.

Markings on this wrench are:
"8 In. ACE HARDWARE U.S.A."
"Forged ACE HARDWARE Alloy"

 

[d42jeep]

Diamond made adjustable wrenches are a popular choice on this thread and I found one today at an estate sale that supports that position. It is a very early carbon steel 12“ wrench with thick jaws that is still in good working condition. Here it is as found.
It came apart easily and I cleaned it while trying to maintain it’s appearance.
Alloy Artifacts dates a wrench like this from the mid to late 20s. It’s now ready for many more years of service.

-Don

 

[slowtwitch73]

I really like the Diamond Caulks with the box end on the handle.

 

[d42jeep]

Those were made during WW2 but not all WW2 Diamond adjustable wrenches were broached.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Hey gang, this seems like an appropriate place to drop this, found it in a FB group. The subject was 4” adjustables.

Join the Missouri Valley Wrench Club page and download the list of over 700 variants.

. I guess some of us have a little catching up to do. I’m only at about 16 total.

 

[four.cycle]

You have to appreciate a sales slogan that really appeals to the masses....

 

[cody1325]

Borrowed a friend's Diamond once, and it was superb. Only Diamond adjustable I own is on the Handiboy I used to carry before it got replaced by a Knipex Pliers Wrench.

Else, Crescent. I think that around 90% of my adjustables are old USA Crescent. For new ones, I go Spanish. The ones made by Irega and sold by various companies (i.e. Klein, Channellock) are great. Recently bought a new (Made in Taiwan) Proto J706, and it was pretty sloppy compared to US examples.

 

[fishwatcher]

I’m not sure either of these qualify as vintage.

My Crescent is probably 20+ years old. The Proto 12” Clik Stop I have no idea what it’s age is. I got it from a guy who said his dad or grandpa owned a shop and had a bin full of these left. Both look pretty much brand new.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Proto 12” Clik Stop I have no idea of its age.

It cannot be any older than September 22, 1959. That's when Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc. was granted the patent. They claimed "First Use" of the name in their trademark application as December 1957, but yours has the patent number on it.

 

[misterbill]

I prefer Danielson-made adjustables as my vintage choice but there is something to be said about the longevity of this bog standard Crescent 10". It was rusted and seized when I bought it at an estate sale but - after disassembling, cleaning, lubing, and bluing it - it has to be one of the nicer old wrenches that I have.





Bill

 

[Maui]

I have several different vintage Craftsman adjustable wrenches. Does anyone here know who made them for Craftsman?

 

[four.cycle]

^ they should have some sort of "production code" on them.

Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges

Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges

Last Updated: 11/13/15 (Note-- items in red are the latest updates) Early Craftsman Series (generally pre-1947, some exceptions): A-circle = Empire, ca. 1935 -1973 B-circle = Wilde, ca. 1949-1958 BC = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. ? BE = New Britain, ca. 1931 - 1947 BM = S-K, ca. 1939 -...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[misterbill]

I've always been fascinated that Western New York seems to be the epicenter of adjustable wrench production. I went through my collection and found 6" editions by eight manufacturers that were located either in Buffalo or Jamestown. From top to bottom and left to right - Keystone, William Hjorth, Scholler, Crescent, JP Danielson, McKaig-Hatch, Barcalo Buffalo, and JH Williams.





Bill

 

[d42jeep]

I have several different vintage Craftsman adjustable wrenches. Does anyone here know who made them for Craftsman?

These three were apparently made by Western Forge.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I've always been fascinated that Western New York seems to be the epicenter of adjustable wrench production. I went through my collection and found 6" editions by eight manufacturers that were located either in Buffalo or Jamestown. From top to bottom and left to right - Keystone, William Hjorth, Scholler, Crescent, JP Danielson, McKaig-Hatch, Barcalo Buffalo, and JH Williams.





Bill

Don’t forget Utica. They supplied adjustables to Plomb before Plomb purchased Danielson.
Utica made Plomb adjustable.
-Don

 

[fishwatcher]

I can’t say what’s best as I only have a few I've ever owned and used.

Today, I got three old adjustable wrenches.

Two by Diamond and one Blue Point.

They cleaned up pretty nicely. There was some surface rust that I cleaned off with wire and radial wheels.

The first one is an “automotive wrench”? What is this best used for? Can’t it just be used like a traditional “Crescent” wrench? It has smooth holding faces, not like a pipe wrench.
The Blue-Point has some chrome flaking off. What’s the best way to fix this? I tried wire wheeling and an abrasive radial brush to smooth it, but it still has some sharp flakes coming off.

Thx.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Today, I got three old adjustable wrenches.

Two by Diamond and one Blue Point.

They cleaned up pretty nicely. There was some surface rust that I cleaned off with wire and radial wheels.

The first one is an “automotive wrench”? What is this best used for? Can’t it just be used like a traditional “Crescent” wrench? It has smooth holding faces, not like a pipe wrench.

The "auto wrench" or "Ford wrench" (as they are generally termed) are also usable as general wrenches, although they lack the angled head that the Crescent design has. In addition, the ones I've handled tend to have looser actions — more play in tightening — than a Crescent style does.

There's a whole GJ thread on these wrenches here.

The test I use when considering to buy one is how easily they open and close, and second, do the jaws close together without a gap or wedge-shaped opening? Many of these wrenches were issued with Ford model T and model A cars (and perhaps other car makes), and the owners must have used a lot of force at times to turn something with them, splaying the jaws.

Yours look like they close smoothly and tightly, plus the edges of the jaws don't show distortion and damage. You have a good condition, usable wrench from a quality maker.

Bottom line? This type of wrench typically saw really hard use in most cases. You will see many of them at yard sales and ReStore shops; approach with caution if you're planning to buy and actually use one.