Collins Wrench

[MShaw]

I just came on this wrench in the back of a drawer. The interesting thing is that alloy artifacts does not show any Collins wrenches and a quick review of google shows no reference to the Collins Co making wrenches.I did find that the stamp "Collins Co. Hartford" was the earliest logo for the Collins Ax company and was used from 1826 to 1834.

The wrench is about 8" long and the handle is a nylon replacement made by my father.

 

[leg17]

Falls into the 'very cool' category.

 

[notlob]

I was not aware Collins made wrenches. Below is an excerpt from a series of lengthy articles covering Collins' history.

http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/Collins%20Pt.%201.html

As time went on the Collins reputation expanded considerably. Their reputation was based on many things and it should be remembered that Collins & Co. also made plows, other edge tools and wrenches as well as iron and steel forgings and castings to order. However, their major product line consisted of axes.

In 1834 the company succumbed to financial difficulties and was reorganized as The Collins Manufacturing Co., indicating they made considerably more than just axes and plows. After entering into the international market in 1840, their product line expanded even more, especially as they added machetes and other long knives.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

He did a nice job on the handle

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this Collins & Co screw wrench at the flea market this morning, M.

I'd be very interested in seeing a better photo of the marking on yours, or at least a verbatim transcription if it's more convenient. Mine is worn. I am fairly confident of the marking (COLLINS & CO / HARTFORD), including the patent dates I am "filling in" via research, but I'd be curious to see how yours is marked.

Apparently this patent (50,364, granted October 10, 1865) and the renewal (RE 5,294, granted February 25, 1873) were the subject of a long and hotly contested lawsuit between Collins & Company and the Coes folks. Coes eventually won and the Collins patent was axed by the USPTO in 1889.

I could be wrong, but I don't think there are too many of these around.

 

[MShaw]

Lugz wanted a better photo of the marking. This is thw best I could do.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, M.

That’s very interesting.

Is that an “A.” I see being crumpled by the mushrooming?

Note that our markings are identical in terms of the name (“COLLINS & CO”) and location (“HARTFORD”), but mine has the patent date (“PAT. OCT. 10. 1865”) and the renewal date (“RE FEB 25 1873”), while yours doesn’t, and yours has that “U.S.” (or possibly “U.S.A.”) marking, and mine doesn't.

As I mentioned, the patent and the renewal was voided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Collins v. Coes for “lack of novelty”. As you can imagine, it’s a lengthy, technical, and at times redundant read, but the case summary (Williams, Book 32, Lawyer’s Edition, Supreme Court Report, October Term 1888, pgs. 858-863) has been digitized and placed into the open library by Google Books, linked here.

So, mine was almost certainly made after 1873 (the date of the renewal) and before 1889 (the date the entire patent was voided).

According to the Directory of American Tool and Machinery Patents (DATAMP), our wrenches were made for a short period of time by the inventors, Lucius Jordan and Leander Smith of Southington, CT, with “Jordan & Smith” stamped on them, ostensibly before Collins & Co acquired the rights.

I am not sure what all that means about your wrench, but I can only see two choices:

- It was made after Collins & Co acquired the rights from Jordan & Smith, but before Collins & Co made them with the patent date stamped on them.

- Or Collins & Co continued making them after 1889 and paid Coes royalties.

Thoughts?

 

[MShaw]

Yes, that is an A in the mushroomed portion of the head.

As far as the dates relative to the patents, take a look in the AA section on Snap on 3/4" drive sockets. In the 1930s they made the sockets with the locking pin retention rather than the spring loaded ball which was patented by Blackhawk.
The sockets were stamped with the license number for the license from Blackhawk. Using this logic if the wrenches were produced under license they should be stamped with the license number or some other indication that they were produced under license.

This is strictly my opinion with very little fact to back it up.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yup, and Phillips is another example, but there are examples to the contrary, such as Williams and Armstrong socket drive tools. But it's a strong point for the early argument, especially considering Coes liked their name on wrenches, and after beating Collins in court, I doubt they'd be so friendly.