The First Ratcheting Open End Wrench?

[RattytatTom]

Is this the first ratcheting open end wrench ?

http://s466.photobucket.com/albums/rr30/RattytatTom/

It says "AC Filter Service" on one side and on the other it says ""CAM-LOC TKE CO. Detroit 2 USA on the other.
Size: 3/4 and 5/8
There are little needle bearings within the open ends. After a soak in the solvent tank, the wrench ratchets!
I've been around a lot of tools and garages over 30 years and have never seen anything like this before.
Can you identify this?

 

[krusty the clown]

http://alloy-artifacts.com/totw_swagelok_camloc_wrench.html#swagelok_camloc

 

[RattytatTom]

Thats it !

What's with the "AC Filter Service" notation? Was this someone used back-in-the-day to change oil fiters? What old cars were those?

 

[krusty the clown]

i'm guessing that general motors had the private labled for them to be used for fuel filter changing. i think the patent was issued in 1951 so your guess would be as good as mine on what cars.

 

[RattytatTom]

Is it a fuel filter wrench (3/4' / 5/8"?) or could it be for removing the old canister oil filters ?

 

[bchee]

that's a cool looking wrench. I think Snap on has a crowsfoot that ratchets in a similar way.

 

[RattytatTom]

Yeah, but Snap-on doesnt charge $3.00 ! This is really a cool "ol skool' wrench. I'll think I'll just hang it up as a conversation piece. I just cant imagine the stories it could tell.

 

[krusty the clown]

yep for 3 bucks it would be sitting with the rest of my rusty old unusable but still cool to look at junk!