Has anyone ever seen this mathieson wrench

[bullmastiff135]

I recently inherited some old tools and found this one. This is a mathieson wrench, I have been unable to find this anywhere. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Dave455]

I haven’t seen one of those, but I have seen other “Mathieson” wrenches of similar vintage.

I assume the manufacturer to be Alex Mathieson and Sons of Glasgow. They were better known as manufacturers of woodworking tools, and they made planes of particularly high quality which are still much desired today.

They did also make engineers tools, including some wrenches, hence my assumption.

The argument against the maker being Alex Mathieson is that most of their products were marked with the full name, and their trademark of a star and crescent.

All of the Mathieson wrenches I’ve seen were just marked “Mathieson” and are obviously somewhat newer than the 19th century, which was when Mathieson were most productive. The company did continue into the 20th century though, I think up till about the 1940’s.

 

[bullmastiff135]

I haven’t seen one of those, but I have seen other “Mathieson” wrenches of similar vintage.

I assume the manufacturer to be Alex Mathieson and Sons of Glasgow. They were better known as manufacturers of woodworking tools, and they made planes of particularly high quality which are still much desired today.

They did also make engineers tools, including some wrenches, hence my assumption.

The argument against the maker being Alex Mathieson is that most of their products were marked with the full name, and their trademark of a star and crescent.

All of the Mathieson wrenches I’ve seen were just marked “Mathieson” and are obviously somewhat newer than the 19th century, which was when Mathieson were most productive. The company did continue into the 20th century though, I think up till about the 1940’s.

Thanks for your reply! I hope to one day find out about it, would just like to know the age of it maybe. Thanks again

 

[Dave455]

Thanks for your reply! I hope to one day find out about it, would just like to know the age of it maybe. Thanks again

Rough estimate, just going by the style and finish, first half of the 20th Century.

Looks like a wrench to adjust a specific machine.

I imagine the square will be a clearance on a standard imperial sized square, a common form of adjuster, and perhaps the open end a standard Whitworth size?

If you could measure them, we could start to narrow down the options.

 

[bullmastiff135]

Rough estimate, just going by the style and finish, first half of the 20th Century.

Looks like a wrench to adjust a specific machine.

I imagine the square will be a clearance on a standard imperial sized square, a common form of adjuster, and perhaps the open end a standard Whitworth size?

If you could measure them, we could start to narrow down the options.

It’s 5” long. Thanks sir

 

[Dave455]

Well that’s looking like a 3/8 square at one end, and either 1 & 5/16 A/F or 3/4 Whitworth at the other (only about ten thou between them so would need a more accurate measurement to say for sure). All common sizes either way.

Gut feeling remains that this is some sort of dedicated machine adjustment tool. The open end (relatively big / low torque) for adjusting a chuck / collet chuck etc, and the square end for a toolpost or somesuch.

Hard to be more certain than that.

Did your family historically operate any sort of machinery? You tend to find these tools stick around long after the relevant machinery or vehicles has gone.

I’ve still got tools for maintaining a Ford 8 and DH Gipsy Moth despite not having either in the family for 70 + years!

 

[bullmastiff135]

My stepfather collected mechanic tools he passed. I got them all, it’s kind overwhelming with the amount of tools that I have gotten . I have lots of vintage tools. I have been cleaning them with electrolysis just rusted ones, then lubricating and putting them back in toolboxes. He never ran any machinery, but he was a big garage sale person so he was constantly buying tools for years.. I figured it was best to get them and preserve them and put them up. My mother was gonna sell them in 5 gallon buckets at her garage sales. I like craftsman tools and he collected a lot of them so majority I have is old craftsman lots of machinist tools. It looks like
spanner, wrenches, etc.. crazy amount

 

[Beerhippie]

Well that’s looking like a 3/8 square at one end, and either 1 & 5/16 A/F or 3/4 Whitworth at the other (only about ten thou between them so would need a more accurate measurement to say for sure). All common sizes either way.

Gut feeling remains that this is some sort of dedicated machine adjustment tool. The open end (relatively big / low torque) for adjusting a chuck / collet chuck etc, and the square end for a toolpost or somesuch.

Hard to be more certain than that.

Did your family historically operate any sort of machinery? You tend to find these tools stick around long after the relevant machinery or vehicles has gone.

I’ve still got tools for maintaining a Ford 8 and DH Gipsy Moth despite not having either in the family for 70 + years!

Just a coincidence that it would fit a 3/8 inch drive tool? Like an extended crow's foot.

 

[Dave455]

My stepfather collected mechanic tools he passed. I got them all, it’s kind overwhelming with the amount of tools that I have gotten . I have lots of vintage tools. I have been cleaning them with electrolysis just rusted ones, then lubricating and putting them back in toolboxes. He never ran any machinery, but he was a big garage sale person so he was constantly buying tools for years.. I figured it was best to get them and preserve them and put them up. My mother was gonna sell them in 5 gallon buckets at her garage sales. I like craftsman tools and he collected a lot of them so majority I have is old craftsman lots of machinist tools. It looks like
spanner, wrenches, etc.. crazy amount

Having inherited tools myself, don’t be in a rush to deal with things if you don’t have to. Far more has been lost than gained by distressed widows rushing to dispose of things they don’t understand.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing. Clean them up, and dispose of what you really don’t want.

Machinist’s tools are often worth hanging onto. even if you don’t use them now, you might. They don’t take up much space but can be costly to replace,

 

[Dave455]

If you do want to sell anything, perhaps consider the classifieds here?

The folks on this site will know what they’re looking at and won’t baulk at a fair price.

Most will appreciate what they’re getting too, so you know they will be going to good homes.

 

[gizardlizard]

Lathe wrench

 

[bullmastiff135]

Thanks Dave, for all your help. I will keep bringing them home and cleaning them up and check out the classified in this form. I’m more than sure I have way to much for one family I would rather them go to collectors than to be sold at the garage sale for nothing. I’m sure I’ll be posting more pics asking what I have if I can’t find it on the Internet thanks again.

 

[hobie18]

Pics!

Sounds like you got a lot on your plate.

Hope to see more of the great job you are doing.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I am having no luck with gracesguide.co.uk or Google.
Dave has it correct: ALEX Mathieson product is marked with a Crescent and a star, which yours seems to lack.

 

[john.k]

Might be a gas cylinder wrench ....small end for the valve stem,big end for the brass hex nut on the regulator.

 

[RTM]

Might be a gas cylinder wrench ....small end for the valve stem,big end for the brass hex nut on the regulator.

Maybe for Mathieson Alkali Works? Ammonia piping perhaps? What side of the Atlantic was it found on?

Refrigeration Engineering

English abstracts from Kholodil'naia tekhnika.

books.google.com

The wrench in this sketch looks half correct, and the panel might match

Municipal Index

books.google.com

 

[bullmastiff135]

St. Louis Mo. USA. Thanks guys for all your help, pics coming soon. Getting ready to get another load.