Anderson & Forrester wrench

[tom coffey]

Long time lurking, no posting.
I picked up this wrench at a local flea market. It was somewhat stuck. I thought that it would be an early box end ratchet wrench once I freed it up. However, now that it works, either way the lever is pressed locks it. It will only fit onto a bolt or a nut with the lever and pivot side towards the work. Anybody familiar with these wrenches. I'd like to know more about it, the approximate age, etc? Thanks.

 

[DadsTools]

Fortunately, the company is still in operation. They make small parts for the gas and propane industry. They don't sell such a tool now, but I would take a guess.....

The wrench is made to install a fitting like an orifice that has a narrow brass tube-like body with a nut on the end. I could see when installing such a part that the top is smooth and narrow and so could be hard to turn in with just your fingers, especially if it's short. The body would pass through the drive and the 12-point opening engages the nut. The tool seems to have thumb wheel serrations around the edges. The orifice is started into the threaded port, the tool is then placed over the tube to engage the nut at the bottom, then the thumb wheel is used to tighten the part snug, then you switch the wrench to lock and tighten the rest of the way.

The company was started in 1928, so the age could be anywhere from that forward.

 

[Username already in use]

I've got one of those. It's marked Harper-Wyman Company

 

[DadsTools]

Does yours ratchet when the switch is shifted?

 

[Username already in use]

It ratchets both ways. on/off

 

[DadsTools]

It ratchets both ways. on/off

If that's the case, then it sounds like OP's wrench is not working right, since he states that moving the selector in either direction just locks the drive. However, I did notice that on yours it seems that the C-shaped plate pivots when the switch pushes it in one direction or the other, while OP's C-plate looks to be stationary in the center position.

OP: try freeing that part and see if it helps.

 

[tom coffey]

The C-shaped plate now moves freely in both directions on mine but either way will lock the movement with no ratcheting action. Looking closely at the angle, or lack thereof on the teeth, I don't see how it could possibly ever have worked as a ratchet.

 

[Username already in use]

It should ratchet both ways. Try soaking it in some evaporust or a mixture of acetone and Automatic Trans fluid.

 

[Leviton]

Tom,

I think I found your problem. I can't say for sure due to the resolution of your photos, but it looks like your wrench is missing a spring-loaded plunger.

I recently picked up one of these. Interesting mechanism. The selector arm that chooses the rotation direction has a spring loader plunger at the end (indicated by the red arrow in the photo). Without that, it doesn't work at all.

Specs on mine:
5.6" overall length.
1.0" wide.
12 point ratchet size: 1/2"
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