More than just adjustable wrenches, post up your vintage Crescent tools

[oldpliers1]

Don,

Thanks for this. Out of my meager adjustable wrench collection (maybe 12) mine has the worst lock up of any of them- but the thick steel style is easily the best to hold and grip. Of course, it was used and abused when I got it, but just the handle is making it close to carry in my pocket at work.

Does anyone have one of the early display boards or cases in there collection? It would be a joy to see one. Regards A

 

[oldpliers1]

I recently found another of the fully polished thick carbon steel Crescent wrenches. This one is 8” and looks about the same as the 12” one.
Yesterday I found a 8” Crestoloy which cleaned up pretty well.
-Don

Did Jamestown wrenches production relocate before the pliers to the Carolinas or did it happen in one big move circa 68?

 

[OmegaDPW]

I posted this in the adjustable wrench thread, but the Crescent (bottom one) has the Pat. Pending, the long address and seems to have very large jaws compared to the others. For some reason, I can't get to the Alloy Artifact page from my work computer- any help in figuring out an idea on the age? I also posted in the other thread that it's stuck in that position. Any tricks on how to "unstuck" it? Thanks all!

 

[oldpliers1]

I posted this in the adjustable wrench thread, but the Crescent (bottom one) has the Pat. Pending, the long address and seems to have very large jaws compared to the others. For some reason, I can't get to the Alloy Artifact page from my work computer- any help in figuring out an idea on the age? I also posted in the other thread that it's stuck in that position. Any tricks on how to "unstuck" it? Thanks all!

Good ? 40s 50s at a guess ,that pat .pending is interesting.
regards A

 

[d42jeep]

I would assume that a Crescent wrench market Pat. Pending would have been made early in 1915.I
I found this carbon steel, thick Jaw 15” wrench at a recent estate sale. It had some crusty deposits on the handle but they chipped off fairly easily.
Chipping off the mystery deposits
All cleaned up
Slightly abused but working fine.
-Don

 

[OmegaDPW]

I would assume that a Crescent wrench market Pat. Pending would have been made early in 1915.I

This is a great schematic, Don. One weird thing I see in mine is that the jaw has this little slit in it that none of my other wrenches have. Kind of hard to tell from your picture if the patent has it too.

 

[Mintgrun]

That slit looks like a crack. I'm afraid the jaw is broken on that one.

Tom

 

[oldpliers1]

I would assume that a Crescent wrench market Pat. Pending would have been made early in 1915.I
I found this carbon steel, thick Jaw 15” wrench at a recent estate sale. It had some crusty deposits on the handle but they chipped off fairly easily.
Chipping off the mystery deposits
All cleaned up
Slightly abused but working fine.
-Don I was hoping your expertise would be applied I saw they had numerous patents, but the condition of the wrench in question being so good left me second guessing, thanks for your opinion. Regards A

 

[Mintgrun]

I was debating whether to post this wrench in the auto wrench thread, or this one and decided to put it here, because the search feature didn't pull any up (using "auto"). Although, I searching "Crescent" in the auto wrench thread didn't bring one up either.



It's got a slightly mottled finish, due to previous rust, I assume, but I find it attractive since it's so nice and even. This wrench amplified my appreciation for auto-wrenches in general. The machining is quite nice.





The maximum opening is 2-7/8", which is impressive. I haven't tried looking it up, to determine when it might have been made. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[oldpliers1]

I was debating whether to post this wrench in the auto wrench thread, or this one and decided to put it here, because the search feature didn't pull any up (using "auto"). Although, I searching "Crescent" in the auto wrench thread didn't bring one up either.



It's got a slightly mottled finish, due to previous rust, I assume, but I find it attractive since it's so nice and even. This wrench amplified my appreciation for auto-wrenches in general. The machining is quite nice.





The maximum opening is 2-7/8", which is impressive. I haven't tried looking it up, to determine when it might have been made. Any insight would be appreciated.

Would it be more for trucks and tractors where you find big threads ?

 

[Mintgrun]

Well, it does say "auto" on the wrench, so I'm thinking cars/trucks, but I'm sure it'd be happy to spin tractor fasteners too. I don't think it's meant to apply a ton of torque, based on its size. Some of the old bearing/grease caps had large hex heads on them. Here's an image I grabbed online showing a big one.

 

[Provincial]

I bought a big Diamond Auto wrench back in the early 1980's specifically to use to change tires (you take off the whole axle assembly) on DC-3 aircraft. An 8" piece of tubing for a cheater, and the big castle nut comes off easily.

 

[Provincial]

Today I ran into my first Life-Time wrench. This was a sub-brand of Crescent after they merged with Barcalo, so the little 11/32 combo has the "scoop" design. The logo of a "hex inside a C" is distinctive. 6-point on the box end.

 

[Jay__Dub]

Had some time to get these out of the rust juice and finish 'em up. Came out not bad.

 

[DetailSeeker]

Picked up two 8" Crescent wrenches on the weekend. The regular adjustable (if this post is right) might be a little young for the forum. That said, because both that example and this one have a first digit that matches the wrench length, I'm a little sceptical of that digit being part of a date code?



I think the spring is missing, but there's a burr that's preventing me from unscrewing the pin to check. I figure I can fix that with a file and take a better look this weekend.

The heavy duty wrench is missing half a spring.

I cannot find any source for a replacement. The part doesn't look complicated, exactly, but I suspect that replacing it will require some familiarity with bending spring steel, so I think I'm going to talk to a local machinist.

 

[d42jeep]

I believe that you are correct about the 8 in the part number being an indicator of length. The number below is shown on a 10” adjustable. I don’t think they used those numbers for very long.
Another 8“ marking but on a Diamond wrench. I have no idea about this one.
A Crescent double ender with a mystery number. Probably indicative of the two different sizes.



-Don

 

[DetailSeeker]

A Crescent double ender with a mystery number. Probably indicative of the two different sizes.

-Don

That makes sense - the double-enders used to be B1 and then the sizes (so B146, B1810, etc.) in the catalog, with a C added when they were Crestoloy.

I believe that you are correct about the 8 in the part number being an indicator of length. The number below is shown on a 10” adjustable. I don’t think they used those numbers for very long.
Another 8“ marking but on a Diamond wrench. I have no idea about this one.

-Don

Okay, the A889 is fascinating to me because it's what I'd expect from Crescent - adjustable wrenches product codes have begun with "A" from the oldest catalog I've seen to the Crescent Tools website last night. Even before they used codes, the code words to order were all Abbie, Adam, Albert, etc.

Right. Writing it out so I can think.

Spoiler: Crescent details.

As of at least 1922, adjustable wrench codes were A(finish)(length), so a black 10" adjustable would be A310, a polished 4" would be A14.
As of '31 the wrenches were listed as "Polished. Also furnished in nickel plate.", but they kept the A1(length) code for regulars, and Crestoloy wrenches were AC1(length). That continued to '57.
As of the '61 catalog, the adjustables were all coded AT1(length), and were black finish with the sides of the head polished. Crestoloy were either AC1(length) or ACL1(length) for the locking models.
In this '73 ad, a 10-inch chrome wrench is AC1(length).
In this '77 ad, an 8-inch chrome wrench is AC1(length)V.
Looking at the '82 catalog from the Cooper Group, "V" indicates that it's packaged on a card. (Currently - as in, on their website - the VS suffix seems to indicate "carded" and the BK suffix is for "boxed". So I'm guessing that's probably what it meant in '77, as well.)


As for H: in 1914 that was for linesman's pliers (Harmon, Henry, Hosea), and by 1922 it was for the CeeTeeCo slipjoint plier, which was only offered in nickel (H2-) plate. That continued until '61, and has not changed by the 1982 Cooper catalog (except that it's called the Cee Tee Co.(R), with spacing).

Also: by the '61 catalog, the regular wrenches are pictured with the open handle style - the indent running all the way up to the nut. The chrome wrenches seemed to keep the older style for a while (this ad from '65 shows both styles, but I think the Nut Bar in it is illustrated, rather than photographed), but by '73 they also have the open handle.

Everything with the mystery code on the head has the older style of handle, and none of it looks chromed; therefore, I am going to assume that all the Crescent wrenches were forged before 1961.

Which means they were all forged before Diamond was sold to Triangle and then to Cooper.

So - to go down the rabbit-hole on details - the code on the head of the Crescent wrenches

• cannot be a catalog code. On a regular adjustable, it starts with H (which is even today for CeeTeeCo pliers). On a double-ended wrench, it also looks like it starts with H - yes, it might be a B and that would match the catalog, but it might also be an H and match all the other Crescent wrenches. So.
• indicates the length.
• ends with two more characters (H633 for the 6", H826 for the 8", H1036 for the 10", and H8X10-6 for the double-ender); no way to tell if those vary within a length, because we don't have more than one of any size with the mystery code.
• has a shaft stamped "MADE BY" rather than "MFD BY" (Don, can you confirm that for the 10" Crescent?)
• does not appear in Crescent catalogs or any advertisements I can find.
• must predate 1961.

The code on the head of the Diamond wrenches - well. Alloy Artifacts associates it with early to mid '20s wrenches. It

• starts with A.
• maybe doesn't indicate length; if the first "8" on your wrench could be a "3", Don, then it'd be A339 or A389, which would be more in line with the two AA 8-inch Diamond adjustables.
• may still be consistent for length (6" wrenches start with A2, 8" start with A3).
• ends with two more characters (A221, A216, and A248 for the 6" wrenches; A330, A333, and A?39 for the 8" wrenches).

Maybe the forging was done elsewhere, and it's a foundry mark? If it's forged, not stamped, is it less likely to be a date code? (Because if you needed to update the ?mold? whenever the date code changed, it feels like a lot of work. But I am unfamiliar with drop forging and other means of automated fabrication.)

The 1922 Crescent catalog brags about it having its own factory, but the 1914 Crescent catalog doesn't. If they were hiring another place to forge their stuff before the 20s, then maybe it was just that place's way of tracking customer molds?

(Might even explain why the number at the end of the double-ended wrench only goes up to -6. The double-ended wrench doesn't show up in the 1914 catalog, while all the regular adjustables do. If that model only existed for a year or two before Crescent got its own factory, maybe the other forge only got up to around mold number six, instead past mold twenty or thirty like with some of the regulars.)

Anyway, I have spun up a theory. Please, poke holes in it, it's how it can be made stronger.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a full picture of the early 10” Crescent adjustable wrench.
-Don

 

[DetailSeeker]

Here is a full picture of the early 10” Crescent adjustable wrench.
-Don

What's on the other side - the side without the mystery code?

Frances

 

[d42jeep]

I don’t think that I have a picture saved of the other side.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I couldn’t resist this nail puller at a Tahoe moving sale on Saturday. It probably won’t get much use. Doesn’t look like it got much use by the previous owner either.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

FYI: I've posted some early (1908-1924) Crescent advertisements and catalog pages here.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Last June I found a pair of Crescent MoToR KiT pliers at the flea. This morning I found another. I guess the pressure will be on to keep the streak going around this time next year!

 

[four.cycle]

Crescent Tool Co., Jamestown, NY model 1047 hacksaw

 

[d42jeep]

I hadn’t seen a Frankenstein Crescent ratchet so I picked this one up on eBay.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Odd, but I noticed some of those have a Wright date code and apparently some don't.

 

[d42jeep]

I can’t seem to leave the thick carbon steel Crescent wrenches behind at sales. This 10” one is in good condition. Here it is along with an 8” alloy Crescent wrench, both found at a Tahoe garage sale yesterday.
View showing how thick the head is.
Other side.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I did some restoration on the two adjustables I found yesterday.
The 8” Crestoloy.
The 10” carbon steel Crescent wrench.
-Don

 

[txtoolguy]

Maybe the forging was done elsewhere, and it's a foundry mark? If it's forged, not stamped, is it less likely to be a date code? (Because if you needed to update the ?mold? whenever the date code changed, it feels like a lot of work. But I am unfamiliar with drop forging and other means of automated fabrication.)

My father and grandfather worked for Diamond, to the best of my recollection they said the entire process was done on site at the Grand Avenue plant. I recall a conversation 50+ years ago with them saying something about those numbers being the forge machine number but take that for what it is, a recollection on a conversation long ago (i.e. I could be seriously wrong )

-t-

 

[oldpliers1]

Here is something a bit different, Crestex Insulation , started in 72 , I have seen Diamond Brand SL58 pliers with it , here are a few examples I prefer the tenite you might like the pvc dipped grip , I have seen a pair of the 542-8i cutters with the Insulation extended all the way up the handles , ( they were my brothers purchased in 75 ) .

 

[DetailSeeker]

My father and grandfather worked for Diamond, to the best of my recollection they said the entire process was done on site at the Grand Avenue plant. I recall a conversation 50+ years ago with them saying something about those numbers being the forge machine number but take that for what it is, a recollection on a conversation long ago (i.e. I could be seriously wrong )

-t-

Hmh. That could suggest that they had several different forge machines for each model of wrench - machines A221, A226, and A248 for the 6-inch wrenches, and A330, A333, and A?39 for the 8-inch wrenches (possibly sequentially). I have no idea if that's at all plausible; I know absolutely zip about 1900-1920 forges!

But at that point, I'd expect to see the numbers on newer tools? The only one I can find that's post-30s that has a number in that spot is the one at https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...seshoe-adjustable-wrench.308792/post-10173204 , and that's stamped in rather than forged up.

 

[d42jeep]

My father and grandfather worked for Diamond, to the best of my recollection they said the entire process was done on site at the Grand Avenue plant. I recall a conversation 50+ years ago with them saying something about those numbers being the forge machine number but take that for what it is, a recollection on a conversation long ago (i.e. I could be seriously wrong )

-t-

Hmh. That could suggest that they had several different forge machines for each model of wrench - machines A221, A226, and A248 for the 6-inch wrenches, and A330, A333, and A?39 for the 8-inch wrenches (possibly sequentially). I have no idea if that's at all plausible; I know absolutely zip about 1900-1920 forges!

But at that point, I'd expect to see the numbers on newer tools? The only one I can find that's post-30s that has a number in that spot is the one at https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...seshoe-adjustable-wrench.308792/post-10173204 , and that's stamped in rather than forged up.

There are probably more Diamond adjustable examples on the Diamond Calk tool thread. This thread has mostly Crescent information.

Diamond Calk Horseshoe Adjustable Wrench

I've had a Diamond Calk Horseshoe adjustable wrench in my tool box for a number of years which originally came out of my grandfather's tool box. In researching the age of this wrench I ran across a website which some of you vintage tool lovers may find of interest...

www.garagejournal.com

-Don

 

[DetailSeeker]

There are probably more Diamond adjustable examples on the Diamond Calk tool thread. This thread has mostly Crescent information.

Diamond Calk Horseshoe Adjustable Wrench

I've had a Diamond Calk Horseshoe adjustable wrench in my tool box for a number of years which originally came out of my grandfather's tool box. In researching the age of this wrench I ran across a website which some of you vintage tool lovers may find of interest...

www.garagejournal.com

-Don

There are more adjustable wrenches there, but the one I linked to is the only one with a possibly-factory-made number in that spot.

I may take a longer look at eBay/that 45 images site/assorted wrenching groups later, but for now that number just behind the head seems relatively uncommon.

Frances

 

[txtoolguy]

There are more adjustable wrenches there, but the one I linked to is the only one with a possibly-factory-made number in that spot.

I may take a longer look at eBay/that 45 images site/assorted wrenching groups later, but for now that number just behind the head seems relatively uncommon.

Frances

Actually it's pretty common on early Diamond 20's wrenches, they are raised letters not stamped in, I have many of them. They stopped I'd guess in the 30's, not 100% sure but once the re-enforced hanging holes started the numbers I think stopped or at least slowed drastically.

thx

-t-

 

[d42jeep]

This it?
Here is one of mine.
-Don

This is my wrench posted on the Diamond Calk thread.

-Don

 

[DetailSeeker]

Actually it's pretty common on early Diamond 20's wrenches, they are raised letters not stamped in, I have many of them. They stopped I'd guess in the 30's, not 100% sure but once the re-enforced hanging holes started the numbers I think stopped or at least slowed drastically.

thx

-t-

Thank you! (I'm sorry, I can see that I started out looking for Diamalloy-or-later wrenches, but I apparently completely forgot that and started generalizing. Correction appreciated.)

This is my wrench posted on the Diamond Calk thread.


-Don

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, I am ******* blind. I'm so sorry! Thank you for pointing that out.

Okay. Now that I hopefully have my head on straight: the numbers on old Diamond six-inch adjustable wrenches are A221, A226, A234 and A248. The numbers on old Diamond eight-inch adjustable wrenches are A330, A333, A339 and A?39. They don't tend to show up past the 1920s.

My (uninformed!) impression is that those could be die numbers.

The numbers on old Crescent wrenches have a similar pattern: letter, number-that-appears-on-specific-length, variable-number. Assuming AA is accurate, they also don't tend to show up past the 1920s.

That said, Duluth is fourteen hours drive from Jamestown today, so my initial vague idea of "maybe they got the wrenches from the same forge" does not hold water. Diamond was always in Duluth, and Crescent could probably have found a forge less than fourteen hours away. It doesn't even seem likely that they got the dies in the same place; it's probably just a numbering convention of the time.

(I have not yet disabused myself of the notion that Crescent moved away from the forged numbers after it got its own plant, but that seems a minor thing.)

Frances

 

[oldpliers1]

This is my wrench posted on the Diamond Calk thread.

-Don

Love the box and its contents

 

[four.cycle]

Crescent "Life-Time" 5-piece SAE Double-End Box Wrench Set

LTB1214 3/8" x 7/16" SAE Double-End Box Wrench
LTB1618 1/2" x 9/16"
LTB2022 5/8" x 11/16"
LTB2428 3/4" x 7/8"
LTB2628 13/16" 7/8"

* These wrenches were manufactured by Crescent right after their 1963 acquisition of Barcalo-Buffalo Mfg. Co. of Buffalo, New York, and employ the patented "scoop" design created by Walter R. Meier and Hollis R. Ross (U.S. Patent D177636) The design is exclusive to later Barcalo wrenches, and this short-lived series of Crescent "Life-Time" wrenches.

 

[misterbill]

Picked up this super clean (LMB14?, LM814?) 1/4" set from a FBM listing this morning. I can't find a catalog from the Crescent Niagara era but obviously from the 1960s. It doesn't quite look Wright (made) to me. Anyone have any insight as to the manufacturer?



Bill

 

[four.cycle]

^ Was manufactured by Wright Tool Company at some point in the early-to-mid 1960s. Compare the ratchet to the Wright model 2400.
I just sold a set like that, but mine was a bit earlier and had the "Wings to Work" slogan on the label.
I know from a magazine advertisement image that Crescent was using that "C in a C" logo as early as 1963.
The last ad I have showing "Wings to Work" is from 1962.... so I think we can reasonably assume your set dates from no earlier than 1963.
That's really an incredible find in that condition.