need jaws for Schick pipe wrench

[Tim37]

I rescued a schick pipe wrench from the trash a few days ago. At first I was thinking about giving the thing to my nephew to play with before it got scraped but this morning I brought it in to work with me and cleaned it up a little then did some research and found out what it is.


I would like to make it serviceable again and use it for lite stuff I like this thing its nice and light. The problem is I'm missing the upper jaw insert and unlike rigid it has dovetails with a set screw so there is no way to make a rigid type work. I did try the upper jaw out of my husk and I could make it work with a little modification but the upper jaw alone weighs nearly what the entire Schick wrench weighs.

Does anyone have a clue on where to get jaw inserts for these old things?

 

[2oolhound]

How about a few photos with a close up of the dovetail jaw?

Sounds like a nice PW.

 

[Tim37]

Sorry it took so long

 

[WWIIjeep]

I rescued a schick pipe wrench from the trash a few days ago. At first I was thinking about giving the thing to my nephew to play with before it got scraped but this morning I brought it in to work with me and cleaned it up a little then did some research and found out what it is.

If your research turned up an old post from GJ and a Worthpoint description as follows:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123942

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-schick-36-forged-aluminum-293006035

those are incorrect, especially the Worthpoint description.

First of all, the Schick razor company was founded in 1926, to make safety razors, not pipe wrenches. They did not switch from making pipe wrenches to making safety razors after the war ended. It was originally called the Magazine Repeating Razor Company and became the Schick Safety Razor Company in 1946.

Second, aluminum was in shorter supply than steel during WWII, and was not used as a replacement for steel. In fact, it was the other way around, and many products made of aluminum or aluminum alloys prior to WWII were replaced by steel and iron alloys during WWII (or simply not made at all), because aluminum was needed for the war effort, especially for lightweight components in airplanes, but not for pipe wrenches.

Those Schick aluminum pipe wrenches were popular in the 1960s and 1970s. I remember them well, and bought one around 1969. I still have it. Yours is a pretty early one and probably dates from the early 1960s, or even the 1950s, but almost certainly not as old as WWII vintage.

The dovetail jaw insert was patented in the early 1950s by C.G. Ertell and W.J. Johnson; however, AFAIK, that particular patent wasn't assigned to Schick at that time.

Whether or not the Schick pipe wrench really has anything to do with the Schick razor company, I don't know. It's possible that the wrenches were a product of one of the post-war owners of the Schick razor company, either Eversharp, or American Chain and Cable Co., who owned Schick for many years.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else has any verifiable information about the Schick-branded wrenches, or, for that matter, about the Reed and Ridgid branded aluminum pipe wrenches of the same era.

 

[Tim37]

Very informative.

It seemed odd to me that aluminum would have been used for a wrench at the time but then I thought maybe it would have been use on a plane for something or other places where weight is a premium.
Any way thanks for the info it will keep me from spreading false bs

 

[WWIIjeep]

...then I thought maybe it would have been use on a plane for something or other places where weight is a premium.

I'm not sure I'd want to fly on a plane where a pipe wrench is used for adjustments.

 

[Tim37]

Those guys where a hell of a lot tougher and braver than we are today

 

[sselander]

Too bad people do not research properly before making assumptions.
This is just a quick search ..

A 1958 ad shows them as:

"Schick Products 591 Quarry Rd. Belmont, CA"

Current search discloses a property management company called Belmont Schick at this location



Schick aluminum pipe wrench
--------------------------------
Acquired by Sifco Industries:
http://sifco.com/

"A New Name and New Opportunities: 1969 Through the 1980s

At the beginning of the year 1969, Steel Improvement changed its name to SIFCO Industries, Inc. The company then ventured into the aluminum forging business through the 1969 acquisition of Schick Products on the West Coast. Schick produced aluminum hand tools in addition to aircraft forgings; however, the company was ultimately unable to find a market for them."


Read more: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/1/SIFCO-Industries-Inc.html#ixzz3WibswTvf

 

[WWIIjeep]

This is just a quick search ..

A 1958 ad shows them as:

"Schick Products 591 Quarry Rd. Belmont, CA"

Thanks for posting that.

What search engine and search terms did you use?

Google only gave me the mostly useless information I posted the links to.

This is interesting:

At the beginning of the year 1969, Steel Improvement changed its name to SIFCO Industries, Inc. The company then ventured into the aluminum forging business through the 1969 acquisition of Schick Products on the West Coast. Schick produced aluminum hand tools in addition to aircraft forgings; however, the company was ultimately unable to find a market for them."

As I mentioned, I remember the wrenches around that time. I can't remember who was selling them, but they were very reasonably priced and just about everyone in the shop bought one or more, whether they really needed them or not.

Today, the Ridgid-branded aluminum pipe wrenches are very popular and have just about replaced steel pipe wrenches in the professional marketplace.

It seems maybe that Schick was just a little ahead of its time, or just didn't market them quite well enough.

 

[sselander]

Google for the search tool.
There is more info on the company if you know how to look.
I just connected a few dots ..

 

[Tim37]

While I really do appreciate all the information this thing is just a lump of aluminum without a jaw insert.

Any help?

Thanks

 

[2oolhound]

That jaw doesn't look too difficult to make although the level of hardening could be a challenge.

Careful scribing and some work with a hand milling machine (file) and drill a couple holes if that's how it's attached, then water quench it from red hot and you will at least have something that you can make do with.

 

[stuccobill]

I came upon your post while researching Schick wrenches. I came upon a 14'' one as part of a 4-piece posting in our local Marketplace. $20 netted a vintage Craftsman 18'', a Ridgid 14'', a large slip joint pliers, and the 14'' Schick aluminum one.

With all that preface, I was wondering how you resolved the jaw insert problem. It does you no good, but someone in TX sold an 18'' jaw for $19 just a few days ago. This shows that Schick parts are still floating around out there.

SO, back to your disposition; did you make an insert as suggested, find one, or find the part? Enquiring Minds, at least mine, wanna know.

 

[JoeTaylor]

I too have a schick pipe wrench, can't remember exactly where I got it. It is my favorite go to for pipe wrench. I used it a lot at my previous job (Maintenance Mech at a large bakery) which I just retired from. The jaws are getting a little worn & I would like to get replacements jaws. I have never had any problem with any weak points (I have used small cheater pipes on it).

Soooo, I still have not found the source for the jaws, but i see a lot of references to people that have them. Has anyone on here found the jaws or been able to modify other jaws to fit??

Thanks

Joe

 

[Marvin Hagen]

I have the Schick and the Ridgid both are nice.

 

[vizmark]

I found my at a garage sale. The 24” Schick head/neck unit was replaced with a Ridgid 24. I’m betting the schick neck was wider then the Ridgid, as the fit is looser then my other pipe wrenches. For 50 cents I’ll keep it.