Hey Cappy! The "Wrench Man" calleth!

[Thumper]

I picked up another monkey wrench at an estate sale this morning. It's an 11" Billings & Spencer.

On side of wrench:

A capital "B" surrounded by a triangle, then the words: The Billings & Spencer Co. Hartford, Conn. 11 in. followed by a capital "G".

Here are a couple pics along with the 10", wood handled Stillson I picked up last week. They've got your name on 'em if interested.

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[Buckrub]

Jim or Cappy.....

What is significance of "Spain"? I assume where made? Two of these have SPAIN stamped on 'em. I figure they're cheapo's, don't know......... big one is 36" long.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk131/Buck7088/Various%20Pics/wrenches_zps10a078e9.jpeg (http://s279.photobucket.com/user/Buck7088/media/Various%20Pics/wrenches_zps10a078e9.jpeg.html)

[Thumper]

In case you're interested in end wrenches (no Ford wrenches), I also picked up these old-timers today. I asked the guy at the sale about them and he said they are "tractor wrenches". I have no idea where he got that or what persactly he means by "tractor" ... farm tractor? Dozer? Peterbilt/Mack/Kenworth/Freightliner? They are super thick and strong looking .. the "jaw area" on the big one is 1/2" thick and the smaller one is 3/8" thick ... so they're definitely heavy duty wrenches ... and old. All but one says: "Williams - Forged in USA" and run from 1-1/16" down to 9/16". The bottom one has a different logo (can't read it), but looks very similar to the Williams wrenches.

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[Buckrub]

I have a couple of those too. Dunno size.

[Thumper]

Those only fit the size nuts/pipes they use in Spain Buckly. :D

[Thumper]

I have a couple of those too. Dunno size.

You mean end wrenches or Williams end wrenches?

[Buckrub]

Look like that. Nothing stamped on 'em. I assume I have cheap stuff!

[Thumper]

Buckly, of those pipe wrenches, the top (smaller) one is the old style. The others are a more modern design. What's the name on the small one?

[Captain]

We call those style open end wrenches "plow" wrenches. There should be a couple more with the complete set
3/4-7/8 and 1"-1 1/8th I think.
Let me know how much and shipping... :-)

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[Thumper]

Cappy, this place was crazy. Looked like a hoarder lived there. Stuff stacked floor to ceiling and I had to just get on my hands and knees to dig (which is the way I like it). Too many of those Yankee/Florida retirees with their immaculate houses with all new stuff. I LOVE the old junky places. I had just started in the garage when Lynn called. They were replacing all the big 6' folding tables they use in the meeting rooms and the employees were grabbing up the old ones. The Maintenance Engineer stashed some for me and I left the sale to run over and grab 'em before somebody found the stash. I loaded up 6 of 'em and brought 'em home to stick in the garage before the afternoon rains get here. Just call me Fred Sanford! ;)

Anyway, I'll be going back tomorrow to do a more thorough search.

The wrenches I dug up today are 1 1/16 - 15/16 ... 7/8 - 3/4 ... 5/8 - 9/16 (all Williams). There is also a Williams marked 7/16USS - 5/16USS (WTF izzat?). The sizes don't come close to what my calibrated eyeballs say should be 7/16 - 5/16 though. The other is the morphodite that I can't see the maker or size (looks like it says 1/2 and ??). There was another wrench that looked similar in the pile (I didn't have my glasses on). There are no sizes shown ... only "Drop Forged" and "Made in USA". On one end I can just barely make out 1/2" but it really looks bigger ... can't tell on the other end. (I didn't include it in the pics above)

[Thumper]

Ok, mystery solved. I thought these things looked kinda weird. I can usually eyeball a wrench and tell you what size it is ... but these have been messin' with me. I think I found out why after a quick net search. I guess these things are REALLY old!

From the net:

In the United States prior to 1929 the sizes stamped on wrenches usually referred to the diameter of the bolt not the actual opening size. Thus a wrench stamped ½ U. S. would actually have a 7/8" wrench opening size as a nut for a ½" diameter U. S. Standard bolt would measure 13/16" across the flats and allowing for 1/16 clearance would require a 7/8" wrench opening. This same size wrench would also fit nuts for 5/8" hex cap screw and bolt and nuts for 9/16" S.A.E Standard Cap Screws and thus would be marked ½ U.S, 5/8 Hex Cap, and 9/16 SAE.

USS - (United States Standard) Also marked with size in inches of bolt diameter i.e. 1/2 USS found on older forged wrenches before the 1929 standard went into effect (see note above). A wrench marked 1/2 USS would have a 7/8" jaw opening.

[Buckrub]

That's interesting!

You never told me if my Spain wrenches are just cheapos, or what..............

[Thumper]

That's interesting!

You never told me if my Spain wrenches are just cheapos, or what..............

Never heard of 'em Buckly ... I assume they're just pipe wrenches made in Spain. (?)

Can't use 'em here though ... like I said above, they only fit Spanish sized nuts/pipes. I think yours might be for left-handed muffler bearings. :D

[Buckrub]

Dang.

[Captain]

Quit researching all this stuff and text or email me a price... Jessssses you gonna find out they worth something! ;)
Take Care, Captain

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[Thumper]

Heck, I paid $100 for 'em ... I have to make a LITTLE bit of profit! :D

[Thumper]

Heck, I paid $100 for 'em ... I have to make a LITTLE bit of profit! :D

[Thumper]

Here ya' go Cappy ... I found the "B" in the triangle logo that's on this pipe/monkey wrench.

http://home.uid.onemain.com/~dwh/index/logos/B-in-triangle-logo.gif

Letter "B" in a triangle logo
Billings & Spencer Co. of Hartford, Connecticut
Source: U. S. Trademark No. 24,771 dated May 22, 1894 (claimed used since Sept. 1, 1870)
Found on a wide variety of both adjustable and fixed end wrenches and other tools

[Buckrub]

Jim, missed your earlier question....sorry.

The little one has the number 10 and it's got a circle around it. It has a word that I can't make out........looks like "WESTO...." but it has red paint over it, and I just can't make it out, even with a magnifying glass.

[Captain]

If they use it in 1870 that means a bunch I them Yankee vets probably made them wrenches.... That probably makes them worth less... :D
Take Care, Captain

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[Thumper]

Jim, missed your earlier question....sorry.

The little one has the number 10 and it's got a circle around it. It has a word that I can't make out........looks like "WESTO...." but it has red paint over it, and I just can't make it out, even with a magnifying glass.

I have no clue ... never heard of Westo or anything close like Weston or Westor for example. The 10 most likely means it's a 10" wrench.

I doubt it's that old Cappy ... but I'll take it! And I guess you could consider Hartford, Connecticut Yankee territory. ;)

[Buckrub]

Hmmm. Now I think it's "WESTGLXXXX" dunno how many more X's.....

????

[Thumper]

Still no clue. It wouldn't be West Germany, would it?

[Buckrub]

Maybe. I think I see an "M".

So, is it now worth $12,302,786?

[Thumper]

Nope ... the W.G. models are worthless. Sorry. :(

[Captain]

Maybe. I think I see an "M".

So, is it now worth $12,302,786?

I'll give you 5 bucks for it if you will pay the shipping... ;)

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