Utica adjustable wrenches

davethorik · Nov 29, 2016

I was curious about these wrenches. I've had the 8" Master Mechanic USA for a couple years and assumed it was a Williams rebadge, because of the square corners on the jaw slide. Then I picked up this 10" Utica that is a dead ringer. The Williams wrenches do have the square corners, but the gullet is hexagonal. So these are both Utica, does the triangle by FORGED mean triangle tool?

AA makes no mention of this, so I assume they are newer manufacture.

woody 73 · Nov 29, 2016

Hmm...I got to think about this for a moment, make that a long moment.

In 56 Utica was sold to Kelsey-Hayes who in turn bought other tool companies, then in 67 Kelsey-Hayes was bought by the Triangle Corporation, and that makes me think that was the company that made both your tools; Again just some guessing on my part.

3baygarage · Nov 29, 2016

Woody, apparently we were both on this topic at the same time. I've been rifling through images.

Dave- I have to say I have passed up many a nice Utica wrench, one last weekend in fact, but a much older one.

Yes, I think the symbol usually denotes Triangle, as it appeared on later wrenches, ratchets, etc., including Herbrand late offshore made tools.

Very interesting wrench comparison there. I would have thought Williams as well, as that would appear to be their signature "D" channel shape. I don't think it would be too far fetched that they were involved in some way, both being NY companies. My neighbor who worked at Williams says they made tools for "everybody". I would like to ask around about the later Utica wrenches.

woody 73 · Nov 29, 2016

Grumble, grumble, grumble...Darn you guys are getting me in trouble with the wife, "Woody why all these silly tool pictures on the computer"?...

Cold outside and taking more pictures for you guys :beer:

I can not make out the marking after the words Forged alloy steel so don't ask me any questions!

davethorik · Nov 29, 2016

Master Mechanic is the house brand for True Value hardware stores. Their modern offerings look Asian, however they used to offer USA made tools. Like Craftsman, I believe they sourced rebadged tools from a variety of manufacturers. I have 2 Master Mechanic USA metric DOE wrenches, 8x6 and 9x7, that are clearly of Easco lineage. I have also seen Master Mechanic labeled RHFT ratchets that look like Easco.

woody 73 · Nov 29, 2016

Yes you are 100% right, they used to be made in the USA, and they had several sources of manufacturers making tools for them; and today they are made overseas.

woody 73 · Nov 29, 2016

So Davethorik I hear tell it's all peaceful in Norka, Ohio darn thanks for asking about my neck of the woods...I used to have a class in Watts Hall but that was donkey years ago, I bet the guy was a child back then.

Sad all the killing that goes on today.

davethorik · Nov 29, 2016

woody 73 said:
So Davethorik I hear tell it's all peaceful in Norka, Ohio darn thanks for asking about my neck of the woods...I used to have a class in Watts Hall but that was donkey years ago, I bet the guy was a child back then.

Sad all the killing that goes on today.

Oh the "active shooter" on the OSU campus that "shot" all those people with his truck and a machete? I'm not super familiar with the area.

davethorik · Nov 29, 2016

3baygarage said:
Very interesting wrench comparison there. I would have thought Williams as well, as that would appear to be their signature "D" channel shape. I don't think it would be too far fetched that they were involved in some way, both being NY companies. My neighbor who worked at Williams says they made tools for "everybody". I would like to ask around about the later Utica wrenches.

I was wondering that too, but when Triangle owned Utica, did they still make their tools in NY state? It looks like Woody's wrenches have the round slide, and all the examples on AA do too.

New York had a lot of adjustable wrench makers. A few years ago I went to the Canandaigua tractor show and found a Cornwell branded JP Danielson 12" adjustable that is not on AA. I keep forgetting to check the date code on it, looks like it was when Proto bought JP Danielson as it says MFD. USA

Utica adjustable wrenches

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