WANTED: Who has seen these double-end adjustables?

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this illustration in an 1899 publication.

Has anyone ever seen one? Note that it is not a double-end crescent-type adjustable. There is one screw. It looks like the entire wrench is essentially two dynamic jaws, almost like machinists' adjustable parallels, with a screw. It appears as if they move synchronously with each other (i.e., when the jaw on one end opens, the jaw on the other end closes, and vice versa).

The closest thing I can find to this design is Baxter, 14,221, Feb 12, 1856...

...and Taft, 97,988, Dec 14, 1869.

Patent image consolidation courtesy DATAMP.

But I can't find either a patent or an example for the type I am interested in identifying. If anyone knows or has any ideas or leads, please post.

 

[454ragtop]

Lugz, I have one I was told is a Baxter, couple pics here https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368367

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks! That looks a helluva lot more like the illustration I found than the patent diagram! Now I have something to search for.

 

[454ragtop]

They show up on Ebay once in a while, just some dirty paper on there now, but a bunch come up in the completed sales listings.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, 454. I need one to complete a fun project, so I may have to actually shop on eBay for a change.

 

[twertsy]

Thanks, 454. I need one to complete a fun project, so I may have to actually shop on eBay for a change.

I have one of those around somewhere...........surprised it wasn't in a picking box....

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have one of those around somewhere...........surprised it wasn't in a picking box....

DISAPPOINTED it wasn't in the picking box!

I found one on eBay last night. Unidentified by seller, so, you know, like page 37 of 119 pages of "antique S adjustable wrench". It was so corroded with rust it looked about an hour shy of rejoining its iron ore particle brethren in the earth. $120.

 

[crguy]

Don't panic. they turn up. As stated above, there is more than one style Baxter wrench.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, crguy. If you're familiar with my approach to completing collections, I am anything but impatient. There are things I have been looking for for years, and I would rather wait for one to turn up at one of my flea markets than pay a ridiculous price on-line. But I wouldn't mind finding one on-line sooner rather than later if it was at a flea market price, or thereabouts, due to the project.

As for the variants, I have found two (2) Baxter patents. The one I cited upthread, and 84,605, Dec 1, 1868, which is 454ragtop's exemplar. So, yes, more than one.

I did find a few Taft pattern adjustable "S" wrenches misidentified as Baxter wrenches by uninformed sellers.

 

[duddly]

Lugz, the Baxters as shown by Ragtop show up pretty frequently at low prices. Unfortunately, that design was very prone to rusting shut. I often seem them at $5 and below but completely rusted shut. And several have resisted all of my attempts to unstick them.

The design in the patent you listed is really cool. I have never seen one of those.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Right? I have seen more adjustable wrenches that I didn't know existed than adjustable wrenches I knew existed looking for this Baxter! Fringe benefits!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Saw this one on ebay, he wants some $ for it

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's the one I was referring to in post #7.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think you will find a better and more affordable example!

 

[3baygarage]

Agreed. Don’t was your money Lugz. Those are fairly common. You, the early morning picker will certainly run into one sooner or later. As 454 pointed out, 7 or so sold online in the past few months as well.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm starting to get a little **** hurt that you guys would even think that I might pay $120 for a tool in that condition! See the laughter emoticon following the price tag in post #7 when I first reported seeing it on the 'bay!

Yes, I can wait. I will be posting the "fun project" I referred to without it pretty soon. Setting it up this weekend hopefully.

And I see the history on WorthPoint. As far as I can tell, though, 454's is the only one on GJ so far.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And several have resisted all of my attempts to unstick them.

How many is several? And would you part with one of them cheaply for me to try my hand at un-sticking?

 

[duddly]

How many is several? And would you part with one of them cheaply for me to try my hand at un-sticking?

I will check the cabinets tonight - I think I still have a couple.

 

[crguy]

As for the variants, I have found two (2) Baxter patents. The one I cited upthread, and 84,605, Dec 1, 1868, which is 454ragtop's exemplar. So, yes, more than one.

I did find a few Taft pattern adjustable "S" wrenches misidentified as Baxter wrenches by uninformed sellers.

OK, here are 2 of those and a little more info. The top one is marked "E. C. Stearns & Co., etc", which leads me to the conclusion they probably acquired the Baxter patent rights at some point.

The bottom wrench is very similar and is unmarked. It could also be yours at a reasonable (?) price.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I think Baxter may have licensed the rights after his initial production runs, fairly typical for an inventor who tries to become a mfgr. Earliest wrenches (of the first patent) were marked Baxter, then Charlton, and then Greene Tweed (yes, the first adjustable hammer head people!). Greene Tweed and Stearns made the second patent.

Define "reasonable." I am definitely interested. Check your PMs.

 

[crguy]

I think Baxter may have licensed the rights after his initial production runs, fairly typical for an inventor who tries to become a mfgr. Earliest wrenches (of the first patent) were marked Baxter, then Charlton, and then Greene Tweed (yes, the first adjustable hammer head people!). Greene Tweed and Stearns made the second patent.

Define "reasonable." I am definitely interested. Check your PMs.

Message sent.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Replied.

 

[don long]

After reading through this thread yesterday I went out to the tool shed( a 40 ft container) and found I had at least one of these wrenches

2019-03-13 14.13.42 by don long, on Flickr

2019-03-13 14.13.49 by don long, on Flickr

And it looks like it has DERBY stamped on it

2019-03-13 14.13.59 by don long, on Flickr

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a nice example, Don.

 

[Farmer J.]

That's interesting. in fact the whole thread is interesting, but seeing another tool with 'Derby' stamped on it is particularly interesting as I have a set of socket end wrenches with the same name. Bought them as NOS 30 years ago and never used them, and have never seen any other tools with the same name on them.
Who is/was 'DERBY'?

 

[duddly]

That's interesting. in fact the whole thread is interesting, but seeing another tool with 'Derby' stamped on it is particularly interesting as I have a set of socket end wrenches with the same name. Bought them as NOS 30 years ago and never used them, and have never seen any other tools with the same name on them.
Who is/was 'DERBY'?

looked around a little and I think Don's wrench was made by Hawkins Hardware MFG of Derby CT. Now, to check on your sockets...


Hawkins Hardware Mfg. Co. of Derby, Conn. was one of several manufactures of the Baxter patented wrenches.

similar:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/pat-dec-1868-baxter-wrench-made-505918946


some google cache info here...
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...wkins__Part_1.html+&cd=15&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

 

[3baygarage]

That's interesting. in fact the whole thread is interesting, but seeing another tool with 'Derby' stamped on it is particularly interesting as I have a set of socket end wrenches with the same name. Bought them as NOS 30 years ago and never used them, and have never seen any other tools with the same name on them.
Who is/was 'DERBY'?

I don’t want to derail this topic, which seems to happen way to much in the vintage tool threads, so I’ll just leave this here. Check it out,post yours if you like.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293616

 

[duddly]

I don’t want to derail this topic, which seems to happen way to much in the vintage tool threads, so I’ll just leave this here. Check it out,post yours if you like.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293616

Interesting. I am fairly certain now that Don's Baxter example was made in Derby Connecticut. Your example of a 'Derby Poland' marking (although definitely not the same company) is interesting, and makes me even more curious about Farmer J's socket end wrenches.

As long as nobody objects too much, I'd like to hear more here or in your thread. Derby was unknown to me too.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am fairly certain now that Don's Baxter example was made in Derby Connecticut.

I am 100% sure. Good fact-finding on Hawkins.

Your example of a 'Derby Poland' marking (although definitely not the same company) is interesting, and makes me even more curious about Farmer J's socket end wrenches.

As long as nobody objects too much, I'd like to hear more here or in your thread.

I would think 3bay's linked thread is the more appropriate place for further discussion. Other than weird coincidence, a wrench or other tools made by a mfgr called "Derby" in Poland has zero connection to a wrench made by Hawkins in Derby, CT.

 

[Farmer J.]

I am 100% sure. Good fact-finding on Hawkins.


I would think 3bay's linked thread is the more appropriate place for further discussion. Other than weird coincidence, a wrench or other tools made by a mfgr called "Derby" in Poland has zero connection to a wrench made by Hawkins in Derby, CT.

Yea.. What's the progress/news on your mysterious double-end adjustable project Lugz?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I purchased crgy's extra. When it's here and I have some time to take a photo, along with some other tools, I will be posting a fun little game. I don't want to say much more than that until then.

 

[tym]

I purchased crgy's extra. When it's here and I have some time to take a photo, along with some other tools, I will be posting a fun little game. I don't want to say much more than that until then.

Yours for the reasonable price of $119?