Sperry Spanners/Wrenches

[Stubby1743]

Here are two stamped steel spanners marked "Sperry". They are unusual in that they are copper plated. These spanners were my fathers and part of his tool kit for working on torpedoes. Dad was in the Royal Navy throughout the 1930's and 1940's and just into the 1950's. In the 1930's when torpedoes were fired from for training they were fitted with a "blowing head" instead of a warhead which caused the torpedo, at the end if its run, to bob vertically in the water. It was then recovered onto the ship via a ring bolt on its nose. After each firing, the torpedo had to be totally stripped down and then rebuilt ready to be fired again. It was my Dads job to do the stripping/rebuilding.

I assume that, even in British torpedoes of the period, that the guidance gyroscope was made by Sperry and hence the tools. What I don't understand is why the spanners were copper plated. Does anyone know?

 

[RTM]

One reason could be that copper is an under layer for good nickel plating.

 

[Dave455]

I’m not a torpedo expert, but yes, a lot of gyroscopic systems were produced by Sperry.

Although thought of as an American company, Sperry had a British subsidiary, and a sizeable factory in Brentford if I recall correctly.

The British concern did their own development work, and produced their own products for the British market, so it’s highly likely that a British torpedo would have had Sperry guidance.

Why were the spanners copper plated? Well firstly, are they copper plated or actually made of a non magnetic alloy?

Secondly, yes, copper is generally applied under nickel or chrome, so it could be that the outer layer has worn off, or was never applied in the first place.

Thirdly, why does the Navy make a piece of machinery that’s controlled with a 2 foot brass wheel when it could be controlled by a 2 inch knob? Why did the Navy produce a sub-machine gun with a bronze magazine housing? Who knows, it’s the Navy!

 

[Stubby1743]

Dave, as I said in the first line of my post, the spanners are stamped steel.

There is no way that the spanners originally had another layer of plating over the copper. It would not be possible for a layer of something else over the copper to be worn away totally uniformly over the whole surface of both spanners.

 

[RTM]

There is no way that the spanners originally had another layer of plating over the copper. It would not be possible for a layer of something else over the copper to be worn away totally uniformly over the whole surface of both spanners.

You must not run with the same tool polishers I see out here occasionally. I swear, belt sander, wire wheel, polyurethane, whatever it takes to get a uniform appearance.


Not that I doubt your statement, your side of the world could have done things differently 70+ yrs ago

 

[engineer2]

Spark proof might be important around torpedoes.

 

[MR.X]

Right, but they're not spark proof or even spark resistant, it could be argued that tools workers THINK are made of some copper alloy.. brass, bronze etc. but are really only thinly plated are more dangerous than conventional steel tools because the user might ASSUME they're spark resistant and use them in a manner they otherwise wouldn't. Maritime related corrosion resistance might have been the intent though that could be problematic too if the user thinks he doesn't have to wipe them down. The other obvious consideration would be the value of having a non magnetic tool but here again a plated tool isn't going to help....as far as I know.

 

[DAustin]

It could be they were plated to keep the steel from rusting in a saltwater environment.

 

[Dave455]

Dave, as I said in the first line of my post, the spanners are stamped steel.

There is no way that the spanners originally had another layer of plating over the copper. It would not be possible for a layer of something else over the copper to be worn away totally uniformly over the whole surface of both spanners.

Ahh sorry, I missed that!