Tool Talk
Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: Lewill2 on June 24, 2015, 05:55:08 PM
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I recently one an auction lot in a online auction. The lot was 3 small wrenches and the one I was after is a L. S. Kellogg Rider Patent Lightning Wrench in the 4 1/2 inch size, I already have 2 of the big ones in my collection. Patented June 21, 1892 Patent #477,228
The second one is a 4 1/2 inch T&L Gem wrench that is in fair condition.
The third wrench in the lot and the surprise is a Billings and Spencer Type D quick adjust cycle wrench Patented March 19, 1895 Patent #536,063. The additional surprise is it is also marked Keating Wheel Co Holyoke, Mass USA. This one is 5 1/2 inches long.
Keating Wheel was established in 1890 in Westfield Mass and moved to Holyoke in January 1892. By 1892 the company had 300 employees. In 1896 Keating agreed to move to Middletown CT. After building delays they finally moved into a new factory October 29, 1897. The new factory had 150,000 sq. ft. of floor space on 2 floors. It was an all electric factory and produced bicycles and bicycle wheels later adding motor cycles and cars.
So unless Billings and Spencer were mass producing this wrench prior to the patent that leaves just a year from patent to the company knowing it was moving out of Holyoke.
I didn't get them cheap but I was happy with the results.
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Detail of the quick adjust button that lifts the adjusting screw out of the rack on the main bar.
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Very nice! I've never seen either of them before.
Mike
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Hi Lewill2, very interesting wrenches, the name Keating kept bugging me as I live not to far
from Holyoke, which is next to Chicopee, Mass. (home of Overman Wheel Co.)
if you have an Overman bicycle wrench, there is a relationship with Keating.
being so close to home, I have never come accross a Keating wrench.
keep finding those keepers.
check this out.
www.keatingwheelcompany.com/aboutus.php
Frank
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Another good read on Keating Wheel and their new digs in Middletown CT.
http://www.middletownplanning.com/documents/remingtonrand_middletown.pdf