Tool ID

[Levaughn]

A friend gave me this tool today. I have no idea what it's for. One side of the handle says, "German Hamr-Rench, and the other side says, "Griffith Tool Works Philadelphia Patent Pending." Does anyone know how old it is and what it was used for? Thanks.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Germantown Tool Works became Griffith Tool Works in 1920.

 

[Ricky Joe]

That looks like a tire wrench. The prybar end to remove the tire and the hammer to bump it into place after being aired up a little. I believe Herbrand made one, also, and probably others.

 

[four.cycle]

Cool hammer thing. Germantown became Griffith in 1919.
There's a fairly comprehensive history of the company here.
I am not finding any documentation that shows that particular model, other than a like unit currently listed on ebay.

 

[Levaughn]

Cool hammer thing. Germantown became Griffith in 1919.
There's a fairly comprehensive history of the company here.
I am not finding any documentation that shows that particular model, other than a like unit currently listed on ebay.

That's the same thing I came up with when searching on Ebay.

 

[RTM]

Cool hammer thing. Germantown became Griffith in 1919.
There's a fairly comprehensive history of the company here.
I am not finding any documentation that shows that particular model, other than a like unit currently listed on ebay.

We've added a little bit of history to this thread2, but mostly early stuff

Germantown Tool Works

As first reported in the 2018 Garage Sale thread, I found a primitive 4-oz ball pein with an original handle today at the flea market. Couldn't read the marking ("GERMANTOWN") until I got home and de-rusted it. It's the first Germantown Tool Works tool I have ever found. I searched GJ, and I...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[larry_g]

My first thought was a crating hammer, however yours does not seem to have a nail puller function. Something trade specific I presume.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have no doubt that's a tire/wheel tool, but I dug through everything I have here and didn't find anything matching that unit. Automobile wheels and "hub caps" were MUCH different in 1919, so I am thoroughly puzzled by that one.

A couple early "hub cap" removal tools here for your perusal:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Definitely a demountable rim tool. Here's my Williams.

 

[four.cycle]

^ exactomundo.