Crane bros mfg wrench

[Partner217]

Hey everyone, I have a wrench that I need a little help with. I know it was made by Crane Bros MFG about 1874. It's cast and galvinized, I can see a small repair at the bottom end of the jaw piece, and that's it. What business was this used in? Thanks for the help.

 

[Sco Deac]

My first guess is that the relates to the two brothers whose Chicago foundry became what is now Crane Co. They went by variations of the name Crane Brothers in the early 1800s but by 1874 I thought they would be using just Crane in the casting. They were a leader in pipe fittings, valves and plumbing supplies so a pipe wrench makes sense.

 

[jallyn]

If it is from 1874 it may be the precursor to the modern plumber's wrench or pipe wrench we know. The one you pictured would be adjusted with the nut, then beat on to the pipe or fitting with a hammer at the top right of your picture.

The pipe wrench was greatly improved in 1888 by Johan Petter Johansson who started a company in Sweden that later became known as Bahco. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber_wrench

He also greatly improved the adjustable wrench or "spanner". Too bad Bahco recently moved their production of adjustable wrenches to Spain. Still pretty good tools, but not the same as the original country they were invented.

 

[Sco Deac]

Found some interesting references on this. It does seem to relate to what is now crane co.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=21946

Here they value it around $125-$250. https://mjdtools.com/ToolList.php?list=1767