World's First Ever Detachable Crowfoot Wrenches?

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

I recently acquired this set of primitive detachable crowfoot wrenches from a gent in New Jersey who found them at an estate sale.

I have no way of knowing if they originally came from the factory with this little coffin-shaped rack, but I suspect homemade on that. Either way it is easily as old as the wrenches.

It was caked with shop grime and nicotine residue when I got it. You can see where the wrenches left impressions from having hung there for so long. The construction is interesting, with a galvanized sheet steel backing.

Cleaning the grime off the wood took a good hour of gentle rubbing with Murphy’s, revealing that a previous owner made little crib notes about the sizes of the wrenches on the wood next to each square opening. More on that below.

I have a lot more to post, so bear with me...

(Post 1 of 7)

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

The guy who found them is an antiques dealer who does not normally carry tools. He was advertising it as “C.F. MILLER crowfoot wrenches,” but I found it odd that the “MILLER” stamping was above the “C.” and the “F.” on each piece, and much smaller, reading more naturally like “MILLER C.F.” to me.

I thought I recognized the “MILLER” stamping as the same "MILLER" stamping that is on the sockets that the Charles Miller Company made later in notable tools inventor Charles Miller’s career, well after his first venture (Miller Combination Tool), second venture (C.M.B. Wrench), and his licensing arrangement with Syracuse Wrench Company, which allowed Syracuse to use his 1907 ratchet (845,716) and T-handle (845,717) patents for royalties.

Also, Miller never used a middle initial, “F.” or any other letter, on any labels or in any business literature or official capacity. It was always either Charles Miller or just Miller.

Post 2 of 7

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

Based on all of the above, and some ads I found for Charles Miller Crow Foot wrenches in very early (1915 and 1917) trade journals…

…I have a high degree of confidence that the “MILLER C.F.” marking on each wrench signifies Miller Crow Foot.

It seems almost too obvious to be true, but it’s the only explanation that makes sense, which was supported by some deep research I did into the origins of these wrenches.

As most of you guys already know, these wrenches typically came with the jaw welded or forged onto the end of a long shank in an offset position meant for reaching into tight spaces in and around pipes and apparatuses in the railroad and power industries. I found numerous examples in early trade journals and other literature. Note that the term for the wrench was either written as two words (“Crow Foot”) or hyphenated (“Crow-Foot”). It doesn’t seem to have evolved and been standardized as one word (“Crowfoot”) until much later.

Post 3 of 7

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

Here are some more. I really like the wrench in the first ad. The Crowfoot ends are fixed on the ends of the shank, but the handle is adjustable. Also throwing in an ad for a Charles Miller wrenches catalog from 1919, only a few years after the 1915 and 1917 ads, implying these were probably made into the early 20's.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

These early detachable crowfoot attachments operate on the same principle as the sockets that Charles Miller made, with 5/8-inch square male drive tangs. That allows them to be used with any combination of the Charles Miller handle, extension, and ratchet head, which are all 5/8-inch square female drive.

Post 5 of 7

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

I haven’t been able to locate the Miller patent yet, or any other patent for a detachable crowfoot in this early detachable era (pressed steel, cast, and machined). But I haven’t found any other detachable crowfoot drive tool attachments this old, from this early detachable era.

The earliest catalog I have found with detachable crowfoot wrenches from a major manufacturer of hot-forged tools is Plomb Catalog 9 (1929).

Bonney seems to have introduced them in 1932.

Interestingly, at this time, Snap-on was still making the more conventional Crowfoot wrenches, but they were hinging them on the end of a long shank with a cross-bar. I know they were making detachable crowfoot wrenches during WWII, because I have them, but I can't seem to find them in a catalog until 1946 - and those were the flarenut boxockets.

OPEN QUESTION #1: Has anyone seen detachable Crowfoot wrenches that can be dated to earlier than 1915? Has anyone seen detachable Crowfoot wrenches in a major manufacturers’ catalog earlier than 1929? If so, please chime in.

Post 6 of 7

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

The MILLER crowfoot wrenches have some very interesting size markings, all followed by either a “C” or an “N.” (Also, this is the best view for seeing how they've been dipped in black enamel.)

None of the fractions on any of the wrenches are the milled opening sizes, they are the nut and bolt sizes the crowfoot attachment is meant to turn. As you can see, there are two (2) wrenches marked “1/4”, two (2) marked “3/8”, and two (2) marked “1/2”, followed by either a “C” or an “N”, but the wrenches are not duplicates. They have different size openings. And then there's a 5/16 N and a 7/16 N. My immediate hunch was that one of the wrenches were sized for U.S.S. and the other for S.A.E./Am.Std./Hex Cap nut and bolt standards, and I was correct. I made a little chart to summarize the situation.

But OPEN QUESTION #2 is, What does the “N” signify with respect to U.S.S.? And what does the “C” signify with respect to S.A.E./Am Std/Hex Cap? National? Coarse? Has anyone ever seen a “C” or an “N” suffix on any wrench size marking?

Post 7 of 7

Private Lugnutz · Jun 21, 2019

Ricky Joe said:
Would this be the same Miller who made tools for Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth/Desoto transmissions in the '50s?

No. That was Miller Manufacturing Company in Detroit. They made specialty service tools for just about everybody, including the Ordnance Dept during WWII. And they ever so briefly owned Bonney! This Miller was in Syracuse his whole life. Started three different companies between 1900 and 1920's, based on his patents, and spawned a fourth (Syracuse). Tools known for male drive tangs, made of malleable iron, cast steel, and briefly, "silver metal" (a bronze-like composition). And now cool-*** detachable crowfoot wrenches! In 19 freaking 15!! :bowdown:

4xdog · Jun 21, 2019

That's an informative and interesting discussion, Lugz. Thanks for it.

I don't have any crowfoot wrenches or attachments, even after 40+ years of accumulating my own tools, and inheriting all my father's and brother's. In fact, I may have only used them a couple of times in that period, and the name crowfoot never quite made sense to me, thinking of them only as attachments. The origin of the term is perfectly logical seeing some of those old catalog illustrations.

r_olson_06 · Jun 21, 2019

4xdog said:
That's an informative and interesting discussion, Lugz. Thanks for it.

I don't have any crowfoot wrenches or attachments, even after 40+ years of accumulating my own tools, and inheriting all my father's and brother's. In fact, I may have only used them a couple of times in that period, and the name crowfoot never quite made sense to me, thinking of them only as attachments. The origin of the term is perfectly logical seeing some of those old catalog illustrations.

I was in the same boat on the name until I seen the early picture and said well that makes perfect sense.

Private Lugnutz said:
I recently acquired this set of primitive detachable crowfoot wrenches from a gent in New Jersey who found them at an estate sale.

I have no way of knowing if they originally came from the factory with this little coffin-shaped rack, but I suspect homemade on that. Either way it is easily as old as the wrenches.

It was caked with shop grime and nicotine residue when I got it. You can see where the wrenches left impressions from having hung there for so long. The construction is interesting, with a galvanized sheet steel backing.

Cleaning the grime off the wood took a good hour of gentle rubbing with Murphy’s, revealing that a previous owner made little crib notes about the sizes of the wrenches on the wood next to each square opening. More on that below.

I have a lot more to post, so bear with me...

(Post 1 of 7)

Nice write up Lugz. Very unique early tools.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

MR.X · Jun 21, 2019

Private Lugnutz said:
The earliest catalog I have found with detachable crowfoot wrenches from a major manufacturer of hot-forged tools is Plomb Catalog 9 (1929). ........

OPEN QUESTION #1: Has anyone seen detachable Crowfoot wrenches that can be dated to earlier than 1915? Has anyone seen detachable Crowfoot wrenches in a major manufacturers’ catalog earlier than 1929? If so, please chime in.....

Off the top of my head P&C has 'em in their 28, should be a copy on the P&C website...so that's not bumping the date back towards your set much but you asked.
Also, unless that set of yours has been online or outside of your area I have seen another one like it including the tin backed wood holder which I had assumed was shop made when i saw it.

Oldtuleguy · Jun 21, 2019

Those are way cool. You are like the king of the 20s stuff :bowdown:

NJ Marty · Jun 21, 2019

I was at that sale in Kinnelon and saw them. Pretty cool you would up with them.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 22, 2019

Thanks, 4xdog, OTG, and Roy.

Thanks, Marty. One of the perks of living in a beastcoast industrial state!

MR.X said:
Off the top of my head P&C has 'em in their 28, should be a copy on the P&C website...so that's not bumping the date back towards your set much but you asked.

Thanks, X. I didn't check P&C. Glad you chimed in. That page is interesting for a few reasons.

One, showing them with their handles helps illustrate how they were derived from their fixed shank ancestors.

Two, check out the yellow highlighted area. "No equal" could be referring to their quality. But only if there were others being made. I think they are referring to their uniqueness. P&C may have been the first to make them in the early hot-forged era that followed the earlier pressed/cast steel and malleable iron era. By 1928, Miller, along with all the other funky early era makers (Eastern Machine Screw, Syracuse, Billmont, Chicago Mfg and Distributing, "Ray", etc) was no longer in business.

So, likely first ever: Miller. (I have yet to see any detachable crow feet from Mossberg or Walden or the mfgrs I mentioned above or any other early mfgr).

Likely first in socket drives tools as we basically still know them today: P&C.

Do you have any SWAGs on what the "C" (S.A.E./Hex Cap) and the "N" (U.S.S.) size suffixes might be signifying?

Private Lugnutz · Jun 22, 2019

Does anyone have any SWAGs on what the "C" (S.A.E./Hex Cap) and the "N" (U.S.S.) size suffixes might be signifying?

This is where I was hoping that early collectors like leg17, humber, and HeelSpur would do some thinking with me.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 22, 2019

Could be, RJ. Simple and straightforward.

Oregon rock crusher · Jun 22, 2019

I tried looking up in machinery's handbook to see if there was a standard for 'Compression' fittings for hydraulic connections but didn't see one. My earliest copy is from 1920 and I didn't find a standard for flare or ferrule type fittings. Compression fittings seems reasonable though as you may need a crowsfoot for access. Just something else to consider. Ed.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 22, 2019

Thanks, Ed. (Off-topic, I am stoked about a little parts cabinet I found at the flea market today...)

Farmer J. · Jun 22, 2019

Well done Lugz, great finds and a write up as well researched and informative as ever. Thanks, J.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 23, 2019

You're quite welcome, and thanks, J.

leg17 · Jun 23, 2019

Ricky Joe said:
Could "C" be for capscrew and "N" for nut?

Might be. I have not run across any explanation.

McFarmer · Jun 23, 2019

Wow, what a store of information.

Well done.

Modern Garage · Jun 24, 2019

Re: Charles Miller with no middle name, my grandfather Albert had no middle name either. I was told this was somewhat common in that era, and he used the second letter of his first name as a middle initial when required on legal documents.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...
Joe

Private Lugnutz · Jul 20, 2019

I’m going to post this Charles Miller No. 77 socket wrench set here at the end of my thread on Charles Miller crowfoot wrenches.

I already showed the set in post #2 upthread and it just makes sense. The crowfoot wrenches have 5/8-inch male drive tangs, just like the sockets, and they were turned with the same handles.

Miller was a prodigious inventor, involved in at least three other manufacturing outfits, from 1905 to 1912 or thereabouts, well before the era when he was making these crowfoot wrenches and socket wrench sets under his own name brand (1915 into early 20’s). He was a founder of the Miller Combination Tool Company, a co-founder of the C.M.B. Company, and he also collected royalties from the Syracuse Wrench Company. All three companies built tools based on his earliest patents (845,716, 845,717, 853,930, 952,435, and 952,436), which did not look anything like these tools.

The Charles Miller No. 77 set comes in a wooden box and includes a ratchet head, a T-handle, an extension, an L-shaped tommy bar, eight (8) hex sockets, and two (2) square sockets. All the pieces are made of malleable iron. The handles are nickel-plated.

Knowing how to stow the pieces in a fairly compact box was made a little easier by the illustration in the center of the lid decal.

Private Lugnutz · Jul 20, 2019

None of the sockets have size markings. All the sockets have model numbers cast into the side with “MILLER” stamped diagonally on the tangs, just like the Miller crowfoot wrenches. Measured, the hex socket service openings are 1” (No. 9), 7/8” (No. 8), 13/16” (No. 7), 11/16” (No. 6), 5/8” (No. 5), 9/16” (No. 6c), 7/16” (No. 4c) and 1/2” (No. 4). The square sockets are 5/8” (No. 5) and 1/2” (No. 4).

This set is a much different design than the Miller Combination, C.M.B., and Syracuse sets that used his earliest patents. Here are the key Charles Miller patent pieces from a Syracuse “Champion” Set No. 12 set for comparison.

AA has a smaller No. 99 set in their collection and they postulate that his earlier patents covered these, too, but I am not convinced of that. The ratchet works on the same principle (a simple cam-faced spring-pin), and I suppose you could interpret the connecting end of the main handle (with openings in the front and sides) as incorporating the principle he used on the earlier sets, with a separate fixture (T-Head) for turning extensions into a T or L handle. But this is all a stretch, in my opinion.

I have not been able to find any period ads for this or any other Charles Miller Company socket set.

Private Lugnutz · Jul 20, 2019

The box has an ornate clasp (identical to the clasp on the Syracuse Champion No. 12 set)...

...and a marvelous paper label on the inside of the lid, reading "No. 77 Set" at the top, and "Charles Miller, Manufacturer, Syracuse N.Y.” at the bottom. Surrounding the branding and the set number are captioned illustrations of various configurations that can be accomplished with the handles and sockets.

Just for kicks, I duplicated the illustrations.

Private Lugnutz · Jul 20, 2019

A few more...

And of course I just had to disassemble the ratchet head out of curiosity, and applied some grease before re-assembling.

Man of Many Vices · Jul 24, 2019

Lugnutz,
You are a true tool historian who, with 8,451 posts, shares your expertise with the tool world. No doubt your tool collection is measured in tons. You and a few others (Outlaws, Twertsy and Shiftless come immediately to mind) have earned a place on Mount Crushmore.

I thoroughly enjoy your contributions. Keep 'em coming.

Szilagyi · Jul 24, 2019

Just saw this thread, awesome job diving into the history of this stuff. That homemade rack for the crowsfeet is crazy cool, that kind of old school real use stuff is awesome to me.

Private Lugnutz · Jul 24, 2019

Man of Many Vices said:
I thoroughly enjoy your contributions. Keep 'em coming.

Thanks, MMV. The collective knowledge base by many amateur tools historians on here is what makes GJ so special.

Szilagyi said:
That homemade rack for the crowsfeet is crazy cool, that kind of old school real use stuff is awesome to me.

Agreed! I would've enjoyed the crowfoot wrenches even if they had come loose, without the rack, but the rack really elevates the coolness factor for me, too.

y'sguy · Jul 24, 2019

This is real interesting thread, Lugs. Thanks for sharing your knowledge as always. The tombstone "holder" is really special.

:beer:

Private Lugnutz · Jul 25, 2019

y'sguy said:
The tombstone "holder" is really special.

That made me go back and see that I called it coffin-shaped. Tombstone is much more apt!

Private Lugnutz · Dec 28, 2019

Don't really have a better place to put this early (fixed, non-detachable) crowfoot wrench, but I reference them several times in this thread and show a figure of one in post #3, so I am going to post these photos here. Appears to have been forged by Herbrand under contract (see the logo in Pic 3). It was in that large lot of early fixed socket wrenches I ran into at the flea market yesterday and I couldn't leave it behind.

MR.X · May 27, 2021

Nothing to add to the crowfoot subject but while digging thru my old stuff looking for some user non sparking tools I came across these which I'm sure, at the time, I threw in with the more modern tools because I didn't know where else to put them. Some kind of brass ish alloy. Non magnetic. I vaguely remember researching these way back in the day......anyway,.....more Miller examples.

Private Lugnutz · May 27, 2021

Very cool, X! I have to admit, that whole Miller/Syracuse "Silverking" composition thing remains a mystery to me. I have two Miller sockets sets, the Miller crowfeet, and a Miller-made Syracuse Champion socket set and they are ALL ferrous, ALL magnetic. But according to period ads, some of them were apparently cast of "German silver" also called "silver metal", a copper-nickel alloy that is supposed to be similar to brass. The finish was silver colored though. Maybe that's what you have and the silver wore off? I don't know. Like I said, it's one of those things I haven't resolved yet.

World's First Ever Detachable Crowfoot Wrenches?

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