Vintage Wrench

[Flintstone]

So before razors and shaving figured so prominently into my life, there was vintage tools.  Cutting tools, vises, wrenches, blow torches, specialized tools (e.g., firefighting equipment).    Much like the shaving stuff, I prefer to be a user-collector….and today's project gave me the inspiration for starting this thread since one of my vintage “monkey wrench” / adjustable wrenches was called into service.

I was assembling a propane fish fryer, and the instructions called for an adjustable wrench.  The picture in the instruction booklet showed the modern adjustable wrench with a wheel….something popularized by Crescent, and much like Channel Locks, Q-Tips and Xerox, has sort of become a de-facto name for any modern adjustable wrench.  My dad always sent me for a crescent wrench (either a large one or a small one), and I always knew what to bring back.  The problem is that my “crescent” wrench always seems to be misplaced….it’s on the smallish side and I always seem to discover it wherever I left it….eventually.   So without the modern crescent wrench, but having multiple (and I mean MULTIPLE) vintage adjustable wrenches, I pulled out one of my smaller Bemis & Call Hardware & Tool adjustable wrenches.  Here’s a pic of it next to a Micromatic for size comparison.  


This “little” guy worked like a charm, despite being somewhere between 80 and 100+ years old.   When it comes to razors, tools and other well-made items (and people), age is truly just a number.  A few comments on this wrench.  So Stephen Bemis and Amos Call formed a partnership in the 1830’s and Bemis acquired the Merrick patent for the Monkey wrench.  They manufactured the wrenches in Springfield Mass until 1939.  In ‘39 they sold the operation to Connecticut based Billings & Spencer.   This wrench has “Springfield Mass” stamped on it, as well as Bemis & Call H & T Co (for Hardware & Tool Company).   The “Hardware & Tool Company” name change occurred in 1868.  Much like so many SE razors, it is VERY hard to nail down the details of these things, so you settle for knowing you have a well-made tool that is still incredibly useful and while many years old, will very likely keep going for many more years to come.

Here are some more pics.  If you’re wondering about the weird marks (dots punched on one side of the head, various letters stamped on the body and head), these appear to be done by various owners who didn’t want their prized tool to be “accidentally” claimed by a co-worker.  This little guy has some mushrooming on the bottom “lip”, but the adjustment screw turns and the head stays fairly level as it moves up and down.  For the record, I don’t tend to polish or shine my vintage tools.  I do not use bench grinders, wire wheels, sandpaper or anything else that would strip off the years of protective patina.  I will take off rust and clean moving parts to get them and/or keep them in good working order.



   

[GAW9576]

Very cool Fred. It's hard to find that kind of buid quality now a days. Are the "scales" on the handle wooden?

[Flintstone]

Very cool Fred. It's hard to find that kind of buid quality now a days.  Are the "scales" on the handle wooden?

Thanks, and I agree.  The scales are wood....and in remarkably good shape (no cracks or dry rot).  Time, sweat, grease and oil have really darkened the handle, but it is as smooth as glass....and very comfortable to hold.  I've got quite a few different vintage wrenches....can't really say why I'm drawn to them, but I'm thinking of starting to put them in my SOTD photos to make them a little different looking.

[Tony'schin]

I'm thinking of starting to put them in my SOTD photos to make them a little different looking.

That's a great idea.

[GAW9576]

Very cool Fred. It's hard to find that kind of buid quality now a days.  Are the "scales" on the handle wooden?

Thanks, and I agree.  The scales are wood....and in remarkably good shape (no cracks or dry rot).  Time, sweat, grease and oil have really darkened the handle, but it is as smooth as glass....and very comfortable to hold.  I've got quite a few different vintage wrenches....can't really say why I'm drawn to them, but I'm thinking of starting to put them in my SOTD photos to make them a little different looking.

That would be pretty cool. And definitely a unique photo.

[Jayaruh]

That is very cool. I bet twhite would like it.