Bonney vs. Williams

[Ricky Joe]

Is more really better when it comes to stating measurements?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Something suspicious is afoot there, RJ. Either the value (milled opening vs nut and bolt standard) is different, or one of the stampings is erroneous, or something. Did you measure them? Please post photos of both wrenches, both sides, entirely.

 

[BrandonV]

Whitworth or USS?

 

[Ricky Joe]

Something suspicious is afoot there, RJ. Either the value (milled opening vs nut and bolt standard) is different, or one of the stampings is erroneous, or something. Did you measure them? Please post photos of both wrenches, both sides, entirely.

The Bonney is close to 3/8” opening. The Williams seems to be closer to 7/16”. I thought the Williams may have been ground wider, but the inside of the jaws look to be too perfect for that. As requested, here are photos.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Whitworth or USS?

I don’t know. I’ve had both wrenches for years, never noticed the disparity before.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Bonney is close to 3/8” opening. The Williams seems to be closer to 7/16”. I thought the Williams may have been ground wider, but the inside of the jaws look to be too perfect for that.

Thanks. It would be better if you measured with a rule or a mic that provides /32nds so we don't have to smoosh, but based on your coarser measurements, your observations on the finish inside the jaws, and the "24" marking on the shank of the Williams (which is the ISN for a wrench matching the 13/32" x 19/32" milled openings that are marked on that specimen's faces) I would guess that maybe the Bonney is probably milled close to 13/32" and the Williams with the opening marked 13/32" was milled wider than that in error. But I don't know. You're right there. 3/8" is shy of 13/32" and 7/16" is over.

 

[Provincial]

When I look at the image in post #1, it looks like the Williams wrench has been opened up using an end mill. The shape of the "upper" jaw has less mass than the lower jaw, and there is a recess where the line of the upper jaw flat meets the radius of the main gullet. This would coincide with an end mill making a cut from the open end of the jaw and pausing at the end. During the pause, the spring-back of the cutter would stay in one place and eat its way into the jaw material slightly more than when it was moving.

 

[Bob-B]

+1 on a modified wrench. I have a single end 1 - 1/16” Williams that I milled open to 1 - 3/16” when I was working as a maintenance mechanic back in 73. I needed that size to tighten a Mopar right angle oil filter adapter onto my small block to clear headers. One of the pluses of having a machine shop at your disposal. I did engrave the new size on the wrench head. This was a common practice at that company.

 

[humber2]

I think the fatter wrench was a modified carbon steel donor.

YMMV