Drew wrenches...whats the story?

[KnurledNut]

Drew branded wrenches.
What do you know about them?
Intended use?
A google search showed a few other sizes on ebay being claimed as hydraulic wrenches, but no proof other than words, and they just dont seem well suited for that.
No results from a GJ search.
Im kinda getting a jam nut wrench vibe. Aviation or industry use possibly?
These had to be fairly common as I’ve seen several of them over the years.
Any input appreciated, even just pics of yours.
This one is 1-3/16 & 1-1/4 and quite thin at 3/16 (5mm). It has a very slight offset on each end.
Well crafted tool.

 

[four.cycle]

C. Drew forged chisels and punches and caulking irons in Kingston, Massachusetts

Here's a little more information about C. Drew in Kingston, Massachusetts

A big thin open-end wrench like that is probably intended for use on valves and such, which causes me to wonder if perhaps "DREW" is the manufacturer of the EQUIPMENT on which that wrench was to be used. (There are several brands of "sanitary flow wrenches" like that - used in the dairy industry.)

Drew / C. Drew & Co., Kingston, MA / http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2015/11/vanished-tool-makers-c-drew-co-kingston.html / http://www.numismalink.com/drew1.html /

Drew / Drew wrench / no information / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/drew-wrenches-whats-the-story.523107/ /

 

[Mintgrun]

I don't have any information about DREW wrenches, but do have two examples. I posted this one in the Keystone thread, since it fits the drill I posted there. I like the little arrows they added, in case you're confused about which end is which.


The other one I have is stamped and bent the same way, but is much smaller. I don't have photos of that one, (or the ability to upload new ones right now, due to a computer problem).

 

[RTM]

All the Dairy (& brewery) fittings I've seen that used lightweight wrenches like that were much bigger, 3 to 6" lines. Not to say they aren't, just a point of reference.

Looking thru the links above, and their marine history, maybe for tightening coupling nuts on SS cables on boats? The locknut after it's adjusted?

Are we sure the Drew wrench is the same as C Drew? Just thinking out loud.

 

[KnurledNut]

Im not seeing any matching puzzle pieces to C. Drew.
This seems like two different birds.
The stamping on the wrench is unusually precise, but has a vintage Proto look to it.
This will be going with my thin wrenches. I wouldnt mind having a whole set honestly.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Yes, all of the dairy industry "sanitary flow wrenches" I came across were huge: openings usually 3 inches or greater. Many of them were cast alloy, no doubt to reduce weight.

C. Drew the punch and chisel maker in Massachusetts is definitely NOT our wrench Drew here - two different animals.

I went looking for other examples. GJ member skking has one listed on ebay! He notes that it's "the same as the PROTO W21", which leads us back to "hydraulic service wrench", right?

 

[Mintgrun]

I'm not seeing any matching puzzle pieces to C. Drew.

I found the matching puzzle piece.



(Thankfully, I can still upload photos to this site, but it takes almost five minutes per photo).

 

[KnurledNut]

I found the matching puzzle piece.



(Thankfully, I can still upload photos to this site, but it takes almost five minutes per photo).

Heck yeah! Nice. Thats a huge puzzle piece! I was wrong!

 

[KnurledNut]

I came across this picture on Reddit of Proto AN wrenches. I guess my spidey senses werent too far off.
Wondering if they made/rebranded them for C. Drew. They appear very similar.
Im also back to thinking aviation use?




And a feebay pic:

 

[KnurledNut]

I appreciate everyones input so far. I do find these interesting and havent seen much info on them here. Hopefully this thread will help the next guy.

 

[four.cycle]

Thus far, we have all of ONE specimen stamped "C. DREW", which belongs to @Mintgrun, right?

Is that definitive enough ?

 

[Leviton]

Thus far, we have all of ONE specimen stamped "C. DREW", which belongs to @Mintgrun, right?

Is that definitive enough ?

If that isn't, this should be... Here is another one of these funny wrenches, and it is marked "C. DREW & CO."

I found these two wrenches last week:

- One is marked: 13/16 7689 STW 7/8
- And the other is marked: <-- 11/16''C.DREW & CO.3/4''-->

(My assumption is that STW is Stevens Walden.)


Did we come to a consensus on what these thin, offset, wrenches are for?

 

[Beerhippie]

Whatever they're for, here's another Proto-branded one that followed me home a while back:



I have a Proto problem.

 

[Provincial]

I found this C. Drew & Co. No. 75 pry bar at an estate sale last week. I couldn't find anything like it in the Drew catalogs on IA, but it seems to me to WWII GMTK bar. It is 16" long.