A brand marking I haven’t seen

[Mark914]

Old wrench, looks like a cheaper stamped steel type , any idea on the manufacturer? 1/2 x 9/16

 

[3baygarage]

Bridgeport Hardware Manufacturing

 

[Mark914]

ahh Thanks!!!

 

[3baygarage]

Sure. Thread in the vintage section if it interests you:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/show-your-vintage-bridgeport-tools.400970/

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And if you really want to nerd out, the BHM version is identical to the Wakefield No. 45, in bend and opening sizes. Whether one was stamping them out for the other, or they were both the only two mfgrs making them like that, I havent been able to determine, but I have never seen a different marking, and I have a few of each.

J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co., Worcester, Ma. - "Wizard" wrenches

^ well.... it IS a "bicycle wrench", by definition, but it was made by Wakefield for the Hendee company and stamped "Indian Motocycle". definitely a collectible. people pay stupid money for those on Ebay, which is why I do not own that particular model. I'd suggest "Evaporust", which both...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Mark914]

And if you really want to nerd out, the BHM version is identical to the Wakefield No. 45, in bend and opening sizes. Whether one was stamping them out for the other, or they were both the only two mfgrs making them like that, I havent been able to determine, but I have never seen a different marking, and I have a few of each.

J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co., Worcester, Ma. - "Wizard" wrenches

^ well.... it IS a "bicycle wrench", by definition, but it was made by Wakefield for the Hendee company and stamped "Indian Motocycle". definitely a collectible. people pay stupid money for those on Ebay, which is why I do not own that particular model. I'd suggest "Evaporust", which both...

www.garagejournal.com

Ironically you mentioned Wakefield , abd this Wakefield wrench was in the same pile of stuff I grabbed. It’s not a 45 but a 55.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yessir! The Wakefield No. 55 has the same exact opening sizes as the No. 45, by the way, if you're wondering, since the BHM "45" you found is not marked with opening sizes, and you may not have measured them. It seems to be the straight shank version. And whatever they put the bend in the No. 45 for, it also needed a little more clearance. These were seemingly the only two DOE wrenches Wakefield ever made. I have never seen others in period trade mags or in the wild. Now that I think about, I've never seen a BHM version of the No. 55, though.

Welcome to the kooky, quirky world of antique pressed steel wrenches.