Vintage RIDGID Pipe Wrenches

[OilyRascal]

I understand your goals of this thread are accomplished, but I thought I would share some of my research work on early Ridgid wrenches.

There appears to be a Ridgid wrench missing from the "Age Chart" that someone put together that shows early Ridgid pipe wrench examples. The examples I have in inventory are further supported as existing in production in 1927 by both Ridgid, and Snap-On advertising. The ONLY difference found between these examples and what are being termed the "1925" wrench, is the presence of a stabilizer behind the nut. A difference between these examples and those being termed the "1928" wrench is the presence of a badge just below the lower jaw.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for the feedback, Oily. I created that sequence, but as you recognize, it was only a secondary artifact of conducting the wartime survey, which had its focus elsewhere. I will look over what you're saying and consider how to re-do it eventually.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I apologize if I've missed this in this thread, but I'll ask anyways. I was going through my rigid pipe wrenches & I noticed something different. I have a few with the trapezoid swash plate marked Patent Pending. I think there might have been one with the same swash plate with the first patent number on it. But I have one with the trapezoid swash plate just marked "PAT'D". Was this marking between Patent Pending & the first patent number? I didn't notice this PAT'D marking anywhere at the beginning of this thread?

 

[d42jeep]

That’s funny. The red one I posted above my wife found on the side of the road when we parked at an estate sale. Like you say, the price was right.
I found this early 10” wrench at an estate sale this morning. Pre ‘37 and no patent number. Here are pictures of the wrench and the jaw. 1928?
-Don

I’ve posted some early ones upthread.
-Don

 

[AntiqueBen]

If this PAT'D mark is after Patent Pending, then why not just stamp the patent number?

 

[AntiqueBen]

Just curious. Is it possible that Rigid stamped PAT'D referring to the 1,552,091 patent before they stamped Patent Pending for the 1,727,623 patent?

 

[d42jeep]

In the case of my examples, I believe that the patent pending ratchet is earlier than the pat’d due to the movable jaw dating being different than the conventional dating on the slightly later wrenches. I wouldn’t bet any money on that, however. Too many pieces could have been replaced over the intervening years.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just curious. Is it possible that Rigid stamped PAT'D referring to the 1,552,091 patent before they stamped Patent Pending for the 1,727,623 patent?

That's what I surmised in post #88 on page 3, but I never went back and included the "PAT'D" wrenches in the timeline, because it's still not definitive.

 

[AntiqueBen]

There would have to be a reason for the different PAT'D & PAT. PEND'G stampings.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

There would have to be a reason for the different PAT'D & PAT. PEND'G stampings.

I don't know who or what this is in reply to. Did you read post #88 on page 3?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The ONLY difference found between these examples and what are being termed the "1925" wrench, is the presence of a stabilizer behind the nut.

This is still a headscratcher, but I added it to the timeline indefinitively for now.

A difference between these examples and those being termed the "1928" wrench is the presence of a badge just below the lower jaw.

You're going to have to explain this one in greater detail. Not sure what you mean by a badge. If you're referring to a decal, that's not a production feature.

----------------

I punted on the "PAT'D" wrenches for now. That's still unclear. It may be unusual for Ridge to go from "PAT PEND'G" to "PAT'D" to "1,727,623" markings, but that at least makes more sense. These "PAT'D" wrenches exhibit the physical features of the second patent, and for me, it would seem even stranger for them to be making a wrench in 1928 with a new design for which they were waiting a patent with "PAT'D" referring to the obsolete wrench design of the 1925 patent. I'm open for more discussion, but there're just too many questions.

 

[OilyRascal]

You're going to have to explain this one in greater detail. Not sure what you mean by a badge. If you're referring to a decal, that's not a production feature.

I referring to what you have labeled "U1" on the graphic. Thank you, Lugz, for your effort in this thread.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Yes, thanks for your efforts Lugz. I actually found a difference between the PAT'D & PAT. PEND'G wrenches. Below are some pics. The wrench on the left is stamped PAT. PEND'G and has a forged notch for a spring clip behind the lower jaw. The wrench on the right stamped PAT'D doesn't have this feature. Other than this the bodies appear identical. Maybe the patent pending is for this added feature? Just a guess. I would have to read the patent info to find out.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I looked at this feature on another Wrench stamped with the 1,727,623 patent. It doesn't have the notch forged behind the lower jaw for a clip. It has a totally different clip that curves around the inside and holds the spring in the back in place. Hope this has something to do with solving the mystery behind the different patent stampings

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ridge monkeyed with those internal guides for years. I posted a summary of the different clip designs they tried in each patent as an attachment way at the bottom of post #1.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Changing the clip is one thing but forging a notch on the body for the clip would require a change in the forging process I would guess. I only have a few examples to look at but it appears the examples with the patent 1,727,623 doesn't have this forged notch. Maybe this notch could be an identifier of a particular time period in the evolution.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The design of the spring clips necessitated various changes internal to the housing. I just never looked at it closer, because it wasn't necessary to distinguish models. You may want to study it closer.

 

[Sawmill7]

Found a couple old 24" pipe wrenches. What is best way to clean up and finish? Would like to keep old look so don't want to sand blast. Any help appreciated. Thanks Bill

 

[Danks]

Were Ridgid pipe wrenches ever made under license by A.B. Jardine & Co. Ontario Canada ?​

Is there any evidence to show that Ridgid pipe wrenches were manufactured under license by A.B. Jardine & Co, Hespeler, Ontario, Canada, in the 1920's
A.B. Jardine had a registerd trade mark of a J in the middle of a horizontal diamond shape. on some of the Jardine pipe wrenches the moveable jaw has a forged C in the middle of a horizontal diamond shape on its side. I have a couple of early Ridgid pipe wrenches that have the similar C in the diamond logo as the A.B.Jardine wrenches only that the open side of the C is facing up, not to the right as on the Jardine wrenches. I would be very interested if anyone has any information to answer

 

[Private Lugnutz]

First of all - welcome to GJ, Danks!

That's a great question.

I don't know of any documented evidence. Jardine pipe wrenches have popped up occasionally on the vintage forum (in both the Ridgid/Erie pattern and the Stillson pattern), and the Ridgid pattern wrenches seem to bear all the key characteristics of a Ridgid design.

I know of at least one on this thread, linked here, that seems to provide fairly strong evidence that Jardine and Ridge had some kind of formal relationship. The handle-and-static-jaw piece has the Jardine trademark on one side of the handle, forged in, and the Jardine branding on the flip side, also forged in, but stamped on the housing for the dynamic jaw is the RIDGID trademark. That same wrench has a RIDGID dynamic jaw inside it, and it's not the only one I have seen like that, indicating that they're interchangeable.

@davethorik posted a big Stillson pattern railroad jobbie in a query thread here, and in reply @3baygarage posted an old ad and you may find some of the ensuing discussion interesting as well.

Maybe others will chime in with other examples or thoughts or research. I hope we can answer your question. Meanwhile, have a look around. If you like old tools, you've come to the right place.

 

[Danks]

Thanks for the welcome to GJ.
The two wrenches that have the Diamond with the tilted C in the centre, are the only two that I have seen with that marking on the handle, and they are the 1st generation of Ridgid pipe wrenches.
Some years ago I came across an article in an Elyria newspaper about a fire in the RIDGID plant one night while superintendent William Thewes was on shift, it did not go into much detail as to extent of damage or what was damaged, I thought I had a copy of it , but cannot locate it, my thinking at the time was, this may have been the impetus for A.B. Jardine's association with Ridgid.

One other item is J.V. Jardines, Canadian patent:- CA-346,458 - Dec. 04, 1934 which is remarkably similar to William Thewes patent 1,727,623

 

[jaybrid]

Hey guys come across the Ridgid pipe wrench with E11. 1
Also has PAT'D with no (G)10" wondering if I could get some help thanks.

 

[jaybrid]

Hey guys come across the Ridgid pipe wrench with E11. 1
Also has PAT'D with no (G)10" wondering if I could get some help thanks.

 

[pafolo]

Ive got an odd ball 18" with a mix of wartime and post wartime features.

Patent #1727623, Jaw code is G3A, its a wartime head shape from what I see and its flat bottom. Has the wartime trapezoid but a rounded post war handle end and a split knurled nut. I think mine might have a broken centering spring unless the forging hole isn't used on mine.

From some of the patents and years I've seen floating around I'm thinking mine is between 1948 with the introduction of the split knurled nut and 1951 since 52 was the rounded jaw unless someone can say otherwise. Another fourm mentioned a near identical model to mine in an old snap-on catalog and it was a 1950 issue. So it would appear that they just did parts bin specials as they worked out their old inventory or changed over their forgings.

 

[jeffmoss26]

RIDGID Beer Tap Handle – LIMITED EDITION for 100th Year Anniversary

RIDGID Beer Tap Handle – LIMITED EDITION for 100th Year Anniversary

ridgid.greenleegear.com

 

[AreBeeBee]

RIDGID Beer Tap Handle – LIMITED EDITION for 100th Year Anniversary

RIDGID Beer Tap Handle – LIMITED EDITION for 100th Year Anniversary

ridgid.greenleegear.com

OK, is it steel or aluminum? Color says steel....

 

[BreeStephany]

I have a January 1943 Ridgid 36" straight pipe wrench I am in the process of doing a resto on, I am curious if anyone knows whether the raised portion of the handle (highlighted in red in the picture below) was polished like more modern Ridgid pipe wrenches or whether it was painted from the factory?



The wrench has seen some use & abuse and has had quite a few layers of paint over the years, most of which was worn off when I got it, so its hard to tell whether it was a factory painted surface or whether it was bare metal.

Based on what I can tell from looking over other wrenches of similar era, it appears that it would have been ground / polished in the raised section following paint, but without any 'factory' paint left on it, its difficult to tell whether it should be or shouldn't be painted.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a picture of my factory original 1944 wrench. It was painted black from the factory and the sticker applied. The raised pad is plain steel.
-Don

 

[BreeStephany]

Here is a picture of my factory original 1944 wrench. It was painted black from the factory and the sticker applied. The raised pad is plain steel.
-Don

Amazing! Beautiful wrench and in amazing condition given the age!

Mine has definitely seen a lot more abuse and likely been used a few times as a welding vise, given the amount of tack welds on the handle. I'm replacing the heel jaw and flat spring assembly, but beyond that, trying to stick to "original" in regard to paint application.

I am going to coat it in 2k ceramic high heat primer & 2k ceramic high heat gloss "universal red", as it seems to be a be pretty durable alternative to powder coating.

 

[four.cycle]

"I have a January 1943 Ridgid 36"..."

Unfortunately the only documents I have for 1940s are black and white catalog pages.
Color advertisements are from 1952 and forward. Not sure if these are really going to be of help:

 

[Jbullfrog]

When did the Super Two debut? I have a black one.

 

[BreeStephany]

I just finished up the resto on my January 1943 Ridgid 36" pipe wrench. I figured while I was taking the time to work on the wrench, I might as well put a fresh coat of paint on my Ridgid D223 1" drive ratchet as well.

When I picked it up, it was severely pitted from rust and appeared to have been painted a few times over the past 80 years of its life.

I picked up the wrench and hook jaw from an architectural salvage shop in Seattle. Not bad for coming from their "crusty & rusty" pile outside of their shop.

A few hours of work over the past week, a little bit of 2k epoxy primer & paint, a new heel jaw pin, a new flat spring assembly and I have a "new" 36" pipe wrench that will last me the rest of my life!

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Picked this up for a crisp dollar bill at a farm auction. Would love to know how old it is.
There was a small pile of ridgid pipe wrenches that sold for $4, wish I got them because there was at least 1 24”, buuutttt I got not paying attention and forgot to bid
-Tommy

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Would love to know how old it is.

Probably 1950's. No earlier than 1948, when red paint and that recessed adjusting nut seem to show up. I have not seen ads with a rounded end on the floating jaw earlier than 1952.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my little one, likely from 1953. Yours is newer than that but the date codes on the rounded jaws are different.
-Don

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Thanks! Didn’t think it was that old!
-Tommy

 

[BreeStephany]

Picked this up for a crisp dollar bill at a farm auction

Nice pick! I thought I got a good deal on the last 2 Ridgid wrenches I picked up, but apparently I can do MUCH better at finding GOOD deals!

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Cleaned this little armstrong 6”, found it in the dirt at my dad’s friends. This looks like a rigid but I don’t know so if you do know I would like to know.
-Tommy

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's probably Erie.

EDIT: BLUF on distinguishing Ridge from Erie is the shape of that plate on the housing. Ridge literally trademarked theirs, which is angular. Erie's is not. If you're interested in reading deeper, this thread, especially post #1, goes into extensive detail on identifying RIDGID pipe wrenches. And a thread I started on Long C era Craftsman pipe wrenches, linked here, goes into similar level of detail about Erie, with plenty of Erie examples, and ventures off into discussions on the various stabilizers keeping pressure on the adjusting nuts inside the housings.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Picked up 2 more at an estate sale on Friday, a 10” & 14”, I think they are about the same vintage as the other one because it has the intertwined letters. Not bad for 50¢ apiece.
I think I’m going to restore the 14” In the near future.
-Tommy