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

[Private Lugnutz]

until he tells us that inserting the "ell" handle into the business end of it turns it into a speeder, but even that makes me roll my eyes a bit ... because ... WHY would they set it up like that?

First of all, credit where credit is due, it was 3bay who noticed the Ell handle tucked into the back and corner of the box under the speed handle.

To answer your question, I am guessing they did it explicitly so the set would fit in a smaller box. How many socket drive sets do you have with all that wasted space made by accommodating the speed handle, which is always the longest handle in the box? In this case it would've been even worse with only seven (7) or so sockets. I mean, I am throwing the term "break down speeder" out there like it was a thing, but I don't recall ever seeing one before. (Note how the back end is round bar stock, and the insert is a regular hex Ell handle.) I love it, but I am fond of the odd and unorthodox.

The approach most others took was to offer a brace-type speeder handle and a regular speed handle. In those cases, the brace-type was usually just a snubbier shank version of the longer.

What's interesting here is that I didn't even know Wakefield was selling a socket set in a box, let alone one with a speed handle, let alone a novel two-piece speed handle.

I'm interested in seeing more photos of everything, including the sockets, the ratchet, the extensions, and the speeder, especially all markings.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Who posts BEFORE they go away for 2 months?!

 

[four.cycle]

"...I didn't even know Wakefield was selling a socket set in a box..."

I wasn't aware that Wakefield was selling sockets at all until I came across that 8R set (posted above) with the oddball holder.
Wakefield sockets in a BOX is a big surprise here too.

In the process of trying to find something on that piece, I discovered that Clarence, son of John E, had more than a couple business entities all going at the same time, or so it would appear from the patent information. (see the most recent updated list for all the company names - I've pasted them below here.)

Purely speculative, but I have to wonder if they might have been working with other companies - maybe outsourcing sockets? They were certainly in the right geographic location to have lots of choices.

I haven't had a chance to chase down all that Mssrs. Oliver, Fleming, and Houghton were involved in, but that rabbit hole might offer more clues.

All Steel / All Steel Wrench Co., Worcester, MA / see also Wakefield, J.E. / patent 1662409 Mar 13 1928 Clarence Wakefield * Not known to have been produced * /

Wakefield / Wakefield All Steel Wrench Co., Worcester, MA / socket set / patent 1680578 Aug 14 1928 & 1760799 May 27 1930 Joseph F. Oliver, Joseph P. Fleming, and Clarence Wakefield / patent 1838254 Dec 29 1931 Joseph P. Fleming / * not known to have been produced * / see also J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co. /

Wakefield / J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co., 89 Exchange St., Worcester, MA / patent 454893 Jun 30 1892 & 545323 Aug 27 1895 & 657326 Sep 4 1900 & 886448 May 5 1908 John E. Wakefield & 963895 Jul 12 1910 Herbert L. Houghton & 1435548 Nov 14 1922 Joseph F. Oliver and Joseph P. Fleming & 1436049 Nov 21 1922 Joseph F. Oliver / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p3.html#wakefield / https://wrenchwiki.com/wakefield-wrench-co/

Wakefield / Wakefield Mfg. Co., Wakefield, NE / "Shark" (pliers) / patent 928849 Jul 20 1909 Anton G. Carlson / this Wakefield has no connection to any of the other Wakefields /

Wakefield / Wakefield Wrench Co., Worcester, MA / patent 1435548 Nov 14 1922 Joseph F. Oliver and Joseph P. Fleming / see also J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co. /

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I saw that. The name change occurred in 1924, so after the knob on this speeder.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Correct. But look at some of the other patent dates that Clarence was involved in (in a couple cases only as assignee.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I glanced at them and the other company names but moved on when I saw they weren't making tools. I really wasn't tracking that Clarence changed the name of poppa J.E.'s business from Wrench Co to All-Steel Wrench Co.

 

[four.cycle]

Correct, all those are noted as "Not known to have been produced" but as we know, that is the default entry when datamp.org cannot find that information.
We know that Wakefield was producing some sort of "socket holder", because I own one. But the device that holds my model 8R set together only bears slight resemblance to any of the devices for which they were issued patents (the closest of them being 1680578), which causes me to wonder if perhaps the holder I own is a revised version of one of those patented designs, or perhaps a combination of features from more than one?
(The case of H.H. Chase's patent 1438900 being applied across such a variety of holders is a good example of that happening. The same holds true on several of the Duro/Indestro socket holders.)(examples below of the 8R holder and the holder from a Wakefield socket set for which I could never find any kind of model number. image #1 and #2 are mine. the others are ebay images.)

When I noticed the different patent numbers were assigned to different companies, some of which appear to have existed concurrently, that really made me curious.

 

[four.cycle]

Patent number - Issue Date - Patentee - Assignee - Item Description

657326 Sep 4 1900 John E. Wakefield / assignee: none / Wakefield adjustable "bicycle" wrench (full sleeve) /

886448 May 5 1908 John E. Wakefield / assignee: none / Wakefield adjustable nut and pipe wrench /

963895 Jul 12 1910 Herbert L. Houghton / assignee: none / Wakefield Model No. 24 female drive ratchet (hex and square drive) /

1435548 Nov 14 1922 Joseph F. Oliver and Joseph P. Fleming / assignee: Clarence E. Wakefield / Wakefield "Wizard" adjustable riveted "bicycle" wrench /

1436049 Nov 21 1922 Joseph F. Oliver / assignee: Clarence E. Wakefield / Wakefield "Wizard" model 120 wrench /

1680578 Aug 14 1928 Joseph F. Oliver, Joseph P. Fleming, and Clarence Wakefield / assignee: Wakefield All Steel Wrench Co. / socket wrench set holder / * Not known to have been produced * /

1662409 Mar 13 1928 Clarence Wakefield / assignee: All Steel Wrench Co., Inc. / socket wrench set holder / * Not known to have been produced * /

1760799 May 27 1930 Joseph F. Oliver, Joseph P. Fleming, and Clarence Wakefield / assignee: Wakefield All Steel Wrench Co. / socket wrench set holder / * Not known to have been produced * /

1838254 Dec 29 1931 Joseph P. Fleming / assignee: Wakefield All Steel Wrench Co. / socket wrench set holder / * Not known to have been produced * /

 

[Targa68]

Here is another small box
Decal on the box say "WAKEFIELD SOCKETS, ALL STEEL, SET No 4, WORCESTER MASS U.S.A"
The ratchet is stamped "WAKEFIELD No 14, MADE IN U.S.A"
"ELL" is stamped "WAKEFIELD MADE IN WORCESTER MASS"
The drive adapter is marked only with "MADE IN U.S.A", while the eight sockets are stamped only with the sizes.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice acquisition! Love the decal. That's from their late production period, after 1925, after the son changed the name of the company from Wakefield Wrench Co. to Wakefield All-Steel Wrench Co.

Assuming you bought that on-line and didn't actually find it in Norway, right?

As an indication of how rare it is, it's only the second socket set we've seen here on this thread after Beatle's big set with the break-down speeder inside (post #68, page 2), there are no Wakefield All-Steel socket sets on AA, and it's probably one of the last four patents (between 1928 and 1931) that 4.c posted in the post just above yours, which are all in the 'not known to have been produced' category on DATAMP.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Unfortunately I'm away from home for another 2 months, so any more photos will have to wait until then.

Speaking of Beatle, probably very little chance of this bump prompting a reply from him. He has 5 posts to his credit here, all on this thread back in May when he posted that big socket set with the break-down speeder. I PM'ed him, too. But no way as far I know to email directly.

EDIT: I gladly take that back! He replied to a PM, saying he'd be back in early September.

 

[Targa68]

Assuming you bought that on-line and didn't actually find it in Norway, right?

Thank you very much for the feedback, appreciate it.

Actually I bought it in Norway, but I don't know where the previous owner got it from...

EDIT: I spoke to the previous owner, and he could tell me this was bought in an antique store in the US and brought to Norway.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Targa. Really special for your collection.

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up this No34 Sunday.

I also thought I bought one of those small guys with the bend in the shank, but apparently set it down or dropped it. Too bad. Statistically, it was probably a No45. But I wish I had at least taken a picture.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I also thought I bought one of those small guys with the bend in the shank,

Ahhhhh. When you said on the GS thread that you thought you had a second but misplaced it somewhere between finding and paying, I thought you meant another nested kit wrench.

 

[humber2]

And...am I confused, or wasn't "Sterling" a moniker used by Mossberg on some of their bicycle wrenches?

Here’s a similar No1 Sterling I found last weekend.

 

[four.cycle]

^ that is a Mossberg

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up a new Wakefield bicycle wrench for the collection. Not a dupe. Similar but first like this I have had with the PAT PEND marking. I guess it's a pre-"Wizard" pre-"No. 7"? I'll have to do some thinking on that.

 

[Leviton]

Added a B-1 to the collection yesterday at the flea. It's not a fancy "Wizard" logo, but I like it. Soaking it overnight in Evaporust did wonders for its functionality and complexion.

Do you have an idea where this (the B-1) fits in the production timeline?

 

[four.cycle]

^ not a clue... Wakefield made a number of different styles of those little bicycle wrenches, just like Mossberg.

 

[wtn1271]

I posted this #24 Wakefield ratchet on the Garage Sale thread and now adding here for those who may have missed it. I am not a collector these types of ratchets but acquired it during the last day of an estate sale as I was scrounging around for anything left behind in what was a very disorganized garage. Gave it a quick clean up with some penatrating oil and fine steel wool, then into an Evaporust bath overnight. I will clean up the remaining gunk with some mineral spirits and a quick dip in ATF for some lubrication and rust prevention. The ratcheting mechanism works as it should. Overall length is 7 inches. Stamped Patented July 12 1910. Interesting how it has a 'MADE IN USA' stamped over the 'Made in Worcester, Mass U.S.A.' . It is available if anyone needs it to further their collection.

 

[four.cycle]

^ that is rather curious that it is double-stamped like that.
the patent drawing is in post #12 of this thread (first page) - it's a surprisingly simple mechanism being used.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

When it was first posted on the GS thread I thought, mistakenly, that it might've been the ratchet from that crazy OOAK set with the breakdown speeder in it.

Interesting how it has a 'MADE IN USA' stamped over the 'Made in Worcester, Mass U.S.A.' .

^ that is rather curious that it is double-stamped like that.

They may have been using a vendor for the pressed-steel handles. That's the only thing I can think of.

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up this little guy this weekend. No32 5/16x1/4 with a square hole in center. The 5/16 end has a crack.

 

[cityofatlantis]

I found this recently is it worth listing on eBay or another site…think they are uncommon from what I see here…and I think this set is complete and in good shape from what I can tell.

Thanks
Chris-Griffin Ga

 

[LesserSon]

That is a neat set with the stepped thumbscrew and wingnut. Someone will want it as a collectible. Possibly they will see your post here and PM you about it. Otherwise, there is a classifieds forum on this site, in addition to eBay, etc.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Added these waterpump pliers to the Wakefield collection this morning. Rather boring branding compared to the rest of the fam! But I couldn't leave it behind.

 

[LesserSon]

What do you guys think about this one? Says it’s a “Wakefield Cycle Wrench”. Thinking the solid, non-riveted dynamic jaw may indicate earlier production? No luck locating a utility patent that matches - maybe it’s a design patent, or was not granted

 

[four.cycle]

^ I believe I have a copy like that but all my photos are in my computer - nothing in this laptop.
Wakefield made various models of "bicycle wrench".
This is all speculation, but I think by the time founder and father John E. passed, son Clarence already had his fingers in several other pies and dove into that "diversification" thing with both feet - resulting in different company names and a broader variety of product offerings.
It would really be nice to have something in the way of "catalog" but so far all we have are little snips from hardware catalogs.

Wakefield cycle wrench

 

[LesserSon]

That’s a really close match.

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah I think pretty close on that one... you can see the other ones on that same page. I only have a few Wakefields.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a Wakefield adjustable wrench I found at an estate sale this morning.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Added this bicycle wrench, found at the flea this morning, to the Wakefield collection, which raises my total to thirteen (13) tools now, no dupes. No model number, no other markings. Black baked enamel finish is all but worn off.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found another Wakefield bike wrench this morning. That's the second one in the span of two weeks. This one is the No. 5.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's a third Wakefield bike wrench flea find, this time a No. 6, which was the fully-sleeved version. The patent date refers to 657,326.

 

[LesserSon]

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

 

[3baygarage]

10” Nut and Pipe Wrench. Patent May 5, 1908. Worcester, Mass.. Just had it all apart, needs a real cleaning though. No telling when that’ll be so, posting it as is.

 

[LNKMK8]

Here is a Wakefield No. 15 Ratchet that I came across last month... I am guessing this was their first entry to the square drive market from the hex drive?

 

[DetailSeeker]

I didn't see this mentioned anywhere, and while it's not tool-specific, I thought it might contribute to the timeline of the company; the Wakefield "All-Steel" Wrench Co. Inc. seems to have been slowly dying between late 1933 and the whole of 1934.

If you go to the Massachusetts "Corporations Card File" search and search for an exact match to Wakefield, you get two hits. Both are for the Wakefield "All-Steel" Wrench Co. Inc., located in Worcester. (My guess is that the quotation marks in the company name meant that everything after the name doesn't display properly; sanitize your database inputs, people!) I've combined them into a PDF and attached them here.

The records show that the company was incorporated on March 6, 1924 (I don't know why the son didn't simply do a name change; perhaps it was a different kind of corporate entity before), and dissolved on January 1, 1935 under chapter 8 of 1935 Acts.

At the time, certificates of condition were something corporations were meant to file annually. Since the typed two-page record shows that no certificate of condition was received in 1934, I'm guessing the corporation was faltering pretty badly by that year. Whether they just didn't send it in (my guess), or they completely missed a filing deadline and could not plead for clemency, I cannot say. But I'm having flashbacks to some extremely poorly organized annual meetings with the Board at work, and I am definitely taking it as a sign that the wheels were gently coming off.

(To be clear, I found this by searching for any name beginning with Wakefield and then opening all the records before the 1950s that I thought might even possibly be related to the company (Wakefield Manufacturing, Wakefield Item, etc.). These records are the only ones I spotted that were located in Worcester, not in Wakefield. Instructions to search for an exact match are just a fast way to point you towards what I found.)

 

[four.cycle]

The "Wakefield" located in Wakefield, Nebraska had no connection to any of the three "Wakefield" companies in Worcester, Massachusetts.

This was a stumbling block I ran into several years ago:

Wakefield / Wakefield All Steel Wrench Co., Worcester, MA / socket set / patent 1680578 Aug 14 1928 & 1760799 May 27 1930 Joseph F. Oliver, Joseph P. Fleming, and Clarence Wakefield / patent 1838254 Dec 29 1931 Joseph P. Fleming / * not known to have been produced * / see also J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co. /

Wakefield / J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co., 89 Exchange St., Worcester, MA / patent 454893 Jun 30 1892 & 529982 Nov 27 1894 & 545323 Aug 27 1895 & 657326 Sep 4 1900 & 886448 May 5 1908 John E. Wakefield & 963895 Jul 12 1910 Herbert L. Houghton & 1435548 Nov 14 1922 Joseph F. Oliver and Joseph P. Fleming & 1436049 Nov 21 1922 Joseph F. Oliver / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p3.html#wakefield / https://wrenchwiki.com/wakefield-wrench-co/ https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...rench-co-worcester-ma-wizard-wrenches.376451/ /

Wakefield / Wakefield Mfg. Co., Wakefield, NE / "Shark" (pliers) / patent 928849 Jul 20 1909 Anton G. Carlson /

Wakefield / Wakefield Wrench Co., Worcester, MA / patent 1435548 Nov 14 1922 Joseph F. Oliver and Joseph P. Fleming / see also J.E. Wakefield Wrench Co. /

Oddly, the Alloy-Artifacts.org entry for "Wakefield" doesn't make the picture any more clear.

Clarence Edwin Wakefield
b. Feb 23 1878 Worcester MA
d. Jan 1962 Ft. Myers, FL

John E. Wakefield
b. 1848 Monmouth, Kennebec, ME
d. 1910 Worcester, MA (residence at 474 Grove Street)