J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co., Worcester, Ma. - "Wizard" wrenches

[AntiqueBen]

They were not conservative about using it. Of my sixteen (16) pieces, almost half of them are post-TM. The bicycle wrenches to the left bottom are a No. 5, No. 6, and No. 8, by the way, all 1900 patent, all pre-TM. And they are 4-1/4", 4-3/4", and 6" OAL, respectively. It was a whole 'nother scheme. That wrench on the lower right is a B-1. And if you look at the No. 19 and No. 9 on the right, you can see that while they are both 9" OAL, the housing on the No. 19 is wider.

That's a sweet collection Lugz! Yeah, I noticed from your pics the no. 19 seemed "thicker" than the other. This "no. 11?" seems thin unlike the no. 19. Here's a better pic of my stamping. Notice the downward stroke on the top of the 2nd one.

 

[AntiqueBen]

My no. 11?? handle looks to be 1/4" thick.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's another angle. Kinda looks like the small bicycle Wakefield's....just bigger.

 

[AntiqueBen]

With the thumb screw on the last thread, its maxed out with a 4" jaw opening.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The No. 7 and No. 9 are also 1/4". The max capacity openings, which you can see in post #131, are 2-1/2" and 3-1/4". That's a 3/4" difference, which is the same difference between 3-1/4" and 4" (of your 11-inch No. 11), tracking perfectly with my supposition. Every 2-inch OAL step equaled a 3/4" jaw capacity opening. Can you guess the max capacity opening of the unnumbered, pre-Wizard 5-inch OAL wrench I have, also shown in post #131? Yes, 1-3/4".

By the way, the No. 19 is also 1/4" thick.

 

[AntiqueBen]

The No. 7 and No. 9 are also 1/4". The max capacity openings, which you can see in post #131, are 2-1/2" and 3-1/4". That's a 3/4" difference, which is the same difference between 3-1/4" and 4" (of your 11-inch No. 11), tracking perfectly with my supposition. Every 2-inch OAL step equaled a 3/4" jaw capacity opening. Can you guess the max capacity opening of the unnumbered, pre-Wizard 5-inch OAL wrench I have, also shown in post #131? Yes, 1-3/4".

By the way, the No. 19 is also 1/4" thick.

Good info. It seems that everything has the proper specs to be the next size up from a 9". Maybe it really is a No. 11.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah, I noticed from your pics the no. 19 seemed "thicker" than the other.

Just to re-emphasize, and clarify, the No. 19 is also made from a 1/4" steel bar, like the others. When I said the housing was wider, I am referring to the component holding the adjusting nut and the dynamic jaw onto the threaded bar (fixed jaw and handle). It is longer or wider than the No. 9.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Just to re-emphasize, and clarify, the No. 19 is also made from a 1/4" steel bar, like the others. When I said the housing was wider, I am referring to the component holding the adjusting nut and the dynamic jaw onto the threaded bar (fixed jaw and handle). It is longer or wider than the No. 9.

I'll have to measure this part on mine when I get back home today. I know this part on mine is 1/2" thick.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I know this part on mine is 1/2" thick.

Not sure what you mean by thick. It's a piece of pressed steel bent and wrapped around the bar (fixed jaw and handle part) and pinned in two places to capture the jaw and the adjusting nut. Not sure of the gauge of the pressed steel. I was referring to its length or width along the bar. The No. 19 is 2". The No. 7 and No. 9 are the same at 1-3/4".

 

[LesserSon]

Found this No36 1”x7/8” kit doe at the flea the other day. Scraped the rust off, brushed it and gave it a light dose of BLO to protect my effort. Now to find the other three(?) and the stepped bolt…

 

[LesserSon]

That acquisition prompted me to check my inventory of square-holed, stamped steel kit wrenches. I learned I’m closer to a set of Wizards than I thought; the No36 joins a No34 and a No32, plus a thread-restoring No105.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The "Wizard" set I believe only included four wrenches:

 

[LesserSon]

^ The "Wizard" set I believe only included four wrenches:

Yeah - I noticed that.
I’m thinking you could fit a No32 on that bolt and still get the wingnut on it. But if not, maybe there were 4pc and 5pc sets, like other mfgs (Indestro, Barcalo ?) offered.

 

[four.cycle]

^ If we had anything in the way of Wakefield "catalog" we might know, but such has not appeared. I just picked through my "Wakefield" folder and I have nothing at all other than for the adjustables.

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up a second pair of slipjoints today. Posted my first pair just over 2 years ago, in 2022.

And then there were three, though I can’t lay hands on the first two, LOL.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And then there were three, though I can’t lay hands on the first two, LOL.

Is that because you don't know where they are? Or you know where they are, but clearing the obstructions between you and them would take more time than you want to currently invest in retrieving them? I just want to know which kind of sympathy I am all too ready to be able to feel for you.

 

[LesserSon]

It turns out they were in the drawer I thought they were in, behind two dismantled C’man 150 DPs, but I had recently tossed all my stamped steel kit wrenches on top of them. Curiosity got the better of me, and I brought them back into the light. I really have to get this stuff organized.

 

[Steven 33]

In response to Private Lugnutz's post earlier today HERE:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6853527&highlight=wizard#post6853527

... and after running searches here for both "Wizard" and "Wakefield", I am taking the liberty of starting this new "Wakefield" thread.

Primarily known for their wrenches, Wakefield apparently also made sockets and drive accessories. The only example that I've seen is in a post by member Pendragon1998 HERE:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205666

There's a little bit of information about the Wakefield Company at Alloy-Artifacts HERE:
http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p3.html#wakefield

I come up with two different patents issued to Wakefield:
patent 454,893
patent 657,326

...and Private_Lugnutz came up with another patent number:
patent 1,435,548

The only information I have on Wakefield is a catalog page from the 1930 Union Hardware Company's catalog, but unfortunately I am unable to make out enough detail to determine which of the items shown are Wakefield, other than the two which are second and third from the top on the right hand side of the page:

1930 Union Hardware catalog Wakefield ad pp 300 by four.cycle, on Flickr

The company was founded by John E. Wakefield, who is credited in the illustration as having been the first to manufacture "the modern bicycle wrench."
Management of the company was later taken on by his son, Clarence E. Wakefield

Clarence E. Wakefield - from 1917 'Men of Wakefield in Caricature - Luther Curtis Phifer, Worcester, Massachusetts by four.cycle, on Flickr

John E. Wakefield - from 1917 'Men of Wakefield in Caricature - Luther Curtis Phifer, Worcester, Massachusetts by four.cycle, on Flickr

Is this stuff related? I know the hargrave is the same but wasn't sure if the Fleming was related

 

[RTM]

I know the hargrave is the same

There is some confusion on my part here. I don't see Hargrave posted in either thread.

Without seeing the whole tool, but knowing it fits in a brace, I'm gonna suggest / guess it's a gasket cutter, hollow auger, or nut driver, as seen here and following.

The Cincinnati Tool Company : Mechanics' Tools : Hargrave Quality : The Cincinnati Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

60 p., illus., 16.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Steven 33]

There is some confusion on my part here. I don't see Hargrave posted in either thread.

Without seeing the whole tool, but knowing it fits in a brace, I'm gonna suggest / guess it's a gasket cutter, hollow auger, or nut driver, as seen here and following.

The Cincinnati Tool Company : Mechanics' Tools : Hargrave Quality : The Cincinnati Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

60 p., illus., 16.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

If you expand the post I was responding to it should show the catalog picture. But here it is

 

[RTM]

If you expand the post I was responding to it should show the catalog picture. But here it is

I was looking at Lugz’s post apparently. Poor clicking on the phone w gloves on.

 

[Steven 33]

I did end up figuring out the screwdriver mystery at least. Turns out I have most of the things from this catalog.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is this stuff related?

Not sure what "stuff" you're referring to, but there is no relationship between Hargrave and Wakefield as far as I know. They just happen to be shown on the same general hardware catalog page.

 

[Steven 33]

Not sure what "stuff" you're referring to, but there is no relationship between Hargrave and Wakefield as far as I know. They just happen to be shown on the same

Probably wasn't paying the best attention.

 

[four.cycle]

Is this stuff related?

Took me a couple minutes to figure out what you were asking.
No, those brands are not related at all - that's just a page out of a hardware wholesaler's catalog on which they've printed items from various manufacturers.

 

[Steven 33]

Took me a couple minutes to figure out what you were asking.
No, those brands are not related at all - that's just a page out of a hardware wholesaler's catalog on which they've printed items from various manufacturers.

I was mainly trying to figure out the Fleming screwdriver. Have never heard of them before and couldn't find any information anywhere.

 

[four.cycle]

^ It's late and I haven't really looked through that big catalog yet, but there is a possibility that "Fleming" could well be their own house brand. Many large hardware and tool wholesalers had their own "private label" house brands.
Only way to determine that is to start scrolling through the catalog. If you see "Fleming" over and over and over and over on various items, you're quite likely looking at "house brand". No shortcuts on that one - only way to get there is the long way.

 

[Steven 33]

^ It's late and I haven't really looked through that big catalog yet, but there is a possibility that "Fleming" could well be their own house brand. Many large hardware and tool wholesalers had their own "private label" house brands.
Only way to determine that is to start scrolling through the catalog. If you see "Fleming" over and over and over and over on various items, you're quite likely looking at "house brand". No shortcuts on that one - only way to get there is the long way.

The only thing in the catalog I shared that's Fleming is the screwdrivers. Other than that there's a bunch of old Bonnie wrenches and stuff and clamps and just random stuff. Here's a picture or two I took a while back of some from the same one.
It's like eight 5 gallon bins full of stuff with a lot that I don't recognize so I'm just figuring it out as I go along.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here is a Wizard by Wakefield tappet wrench set plucked from a Habitat store the other day. Without them being in the tool roll I probably wouldn't have even noticed the wrenches on their own. Now I'll be checking out those bins with stamped wrenches for the two gone missing. Ed.

 

[four.cycle]

^ @Oregon rock crusher - are those tappet wrenches stamped with the manufacturer's name or a part number?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is a Wizard by Wakefield tappet wrench set plucked from a Habitat store the other day.

Fantastic find! Please post a picture of the wrenches out of the pouch pockets. I'm curious if they bear the "Wizard" branding and if so, whether it's the simple blocky font or the stylistic fancified font.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Thanks four.cycle and Lugz. Front of the wrenches are simply block letter stamped as shown in the pics. No Wizard branding on them, just Wakefield Made in USA and the size of the openings. Back sides are blank. Without the tool roll it I think it would be difficult to identify them with the Wizard branding. Ed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Thanks, Ed! This set is in the running for #CoolestThingLugzHasSeenAllYear!