Vintage RIDGID Pipe Wrenches

[jeffmoss26]

today's 5 dollar restore find - part of me wants to remove the dirt to expose the markings on the jaw, but the other part wants to leave the patina on the wrench!

 

[JohnDeere]

That isn’t patina in my eyes. It is just rusty and dirty. I would clean it personally .

 

[AreBeeBee]

And to judge by the knurled adjustment ring it's likely a WW2-made wrench. Cleaning the adjustable jaw may reveal a date...

 

[d42jeep]

Sometimes there is just no choice but to clean up a pipe wrench that you find. There was no chance that I was going to leave this hideous wrench as found. I think it turned out okay.
-Don

 

[PSCo1867]

This 6", B-5-4, squared-off dynamic appears to be practically unused. However, it's been "modified" with an extra hanging hole, and an enlarged original hanging-hole. The red seems absolutely original. May 1944?

 

[d42jeep]

Your wrench may fall into this questionable transitional category that was recently discussed. My very similar example is shown below.
-Don

Ahhh! Good. We are in agreement then.

I don't think there's ever been any question about that. Scroll through the thread. I don't recall any pipe wrench with all the unmistakably prewar or wartime features having a bulge.

If they are wartime dates and not a decade later, yeah, it was either Ridge using up old stock, or people using parts interchangeably years and decades later, which is still very routine.

I don't look at the case of these wrenches - red frame (static jaw, housing and handle), slight bulge, patent number on handle, found with dynamic jaws and adjusting nuts that could also be wartime - as counting or discounting them so much as being more precise about what is being counted or discounted. What is the wrench when it has two parts? The dynamic jaw or the frame itself? Treating them as separate assemblies creates the least amount of conflict.

The red frames are postwar.

The dynamic jaws may be original to the frames and therefore with date codes that are postwar years.

The dynamic jaws may be wartime with wartime date codes.

That's safe and reasonable until we have more evidence, I think.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What Don said. Another perfect example of that group.

 

[PSCo1867]

What Don said. Another perfect example of that group.

Got it. Ok, this is all starting to make sense!

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Got this basically NOS 18” heel jaw for 25¢

 

[JohnDeere]

Here is a little before and after on my 18” that I believe to be a 1953 from the date code of B•4•3.

 

[Brian R.]

I've really been enjoying this thread. There's something about an old pipe wrench that's satisfying in a way that's similar to a great old bench vise. Just a simple indestructible old thing. I picked up a pretty clean 1944 14" off Craigslist. I overpaid at $40 but I don't really care. I needed a pipe wrench for another project and didn't want to buy a new one. All it needed was a soak in Evaporust, paint and grease. Anyway, here are the pics. It matches up nicely with my old No . 2 heavy duty cutter which has it's original box! How often does that happen?

 

[Brian R.]

I've really been enjoying this thread. There's something about an old pipe wrench that's satisfying in a way that's similar to a great old bench vise. Just a simple indestructible old thing. I picked up a pretty clean 1944 14" off Craigslist. I overpaid at $40 but I don't really care. I needed a pipe wrench for another project and didn't want to buy a new one. All it needed was a soak in Evaporust, paint and grease. Anyway, here are the pics. It matches up nicely with my old No . 2 heavy duty cutter which has it's original box! How often does that happen?

 

[d42jeep]

The pipe wrench came out great and the pipe cutter in the original box is definitely a keeper!
-Don

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Very nice restoration!

 

[Brian R.]

Thanks guys! I actually forgot to include the jaw pic that shows what we've concluded is likely the date of manufacture. B-9-4. September 1944. I think of all that's happened in the world in the time this thing has been around. I feel like this wrench is too clean to have been used much in the field.

 

[Brian R.]

Here is another 1943 Ridgid 14” pipe wrench showing traces of the original black paint and the label.
-Don

Ny recent restoration had what appeared to be original black paint along with the usual surface rust. Here's a picture from the Craigslist ad.

 

[jeffmoss26]

wrenches I saw at the restore(s) but did not buy

 

[Brian R.]

wrenches I saw at the restore(s) but did not buy

I've not heard of The Restore???

 

[AreBeeBee]

I've not heard of The Restore???

Go here https://www.habitat.org/restores and (scroll) put in your ZIP code to see if there are any local to you.

 

[d42jeep]

The 10” Ridgid pipe wrench that I found yesterday came out of the evaporust this morning. It is either from 1938 or 1948, I’m not sure which.
-Don

 

[jeffmoss26]

Picked this up today

 

[JohnDeere]

My $5 24” Ridgid. Date code of B•9•1. September ‘41 if I understand correctly. I just fluid filmed it as to preserve the black paint.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this 1940 8” Ridgid showing almost no wear at a local tool sale yesterday. Most of the original black paint remains but the sticker is gone.
-Don
Special water marking on the jaw.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a comparison between a transitional Ridgid pipe wrench and my new Wards Master Quality. It seems likely that Ridgid was supplying the wrenches to Wards.
-Don

 

[jeffmoss26]

Got a couple signs from Ridgid gear

 

[JohnDeere]

Does anyone know where I can get the guaranteed sticker for the wrench I posted in post #422?

 

[four.cycle]

^ did you check Jim's Engine Decals? He's a member here and he has an Ebay page.

 

[JohnDeere]

Can you post a link?

 

[d42jeep]

Pardon Our Interruption...

I haven’t seen those stickers but here is the link.
-Don

 

[Leviton]

I love this thread. I found one, and bought it because it looks factory black. My assumption is that it was made in Octembruary of 1944 and wanted to see if you guys agree? (The adjusting screw ring would have to NOT be original.)

Stamp	Date Code	OAL"	Post #	Type
3 Rx	A E-15-4	10	430	Straight

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...wanted to see if you guys agree?

Yes.

Octembruary

Haha. Yeah, there are some numbers that bust the month theory. I have a couple, too.

(The adjusting screw ring would have to NOT be original.)

Correct. Postwar interchangeable.

You passed the test. Place your right hand on a Ridge Tool Co catalog and repeat after me...

I [state your name], of my own free will and accord, in the presence of these GJ members as witnesses, do hereby solemnly declare that the principles of this dating theory as it has been explained to me accord entirely with my own views; and I solemnly promise that as a member of this thread I will faithfully adhere to those principles endeavoring in every way to perfect this theory for other newcomers, intellectually, and socially, and endeavoring also to hold other Ridgid pipe collectors to that high standard of conduct required.

 

[jeffmoss26]

picked this up at the restore

 

[d42jeep]

Nice 1943 wartime example.
-Don

 

[IMCA38]

Picked up a 36 and 48 at an online auction a couple weeks back. Ugly as sin, but thinking they will clean up decent. After getting them home, I realized that the PO had apparently shortened the handle on the 48. Oh well…..

 

[waks]

After looking thru most of the posts in this thread I haven't seen another one with "Pat'D" stamped on the handle ......I'm assuming it is probably dating between "Pat Pending" and the 1727..........Pat of 1929....any insight as to the date would be appreciated......

 

[Private Lugnutz]

There are a few others on the thread. They've been discussed a few times. Jury is still out. See post #88 on page 3 and then posts #283 thu 291 on page 8. Or hang around. Yours might reinvigorate the discussion on them.

 

[waks]

Thanks for heads up response to my post.......I've checked out the posts that you listed and agree that it is still a "gray" area. I will share that I have a collection of pre-48 wrenches from 6 thru 60......yes I know they should be black but hanging from my 12 foot garage/shop ceiling they are much more visible in red. I do have a few set aside that are still original black with decals intact.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I've had this 24 for years. Good you seldom need a cheater. Bad hard to find somewhere out of the way to store.

 

[Farmer J.]

hard to find somewhere out of the way to store.

Suppose you could always hang it on a hook from the ceiling.. But, paint it red so as you don't bang your head on it, like waks does!

 

[jeffmoss26]

first one of the new year! marked B 9 3