Tool Talk
What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: crankshaftdan II on June 05, 2016, 09:24:43 PM
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Built like a Brick S___ House/Tank==looks like the letters of Mueller Miller and I can't make out the #'s-give away is the five sided opening??? Maybe a shut-off for a in ground water meter? I would think that it would be longer and what would the other three be for?? Hammer, punch, eyelet for carry-hex for tight fastener?
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Per Bolt's Museum-" 8/6/2012 David
There isn't a good indication of scale in the pictures, but those look like fire-hydrant wrenches. TLC0028 might be doing dual duty as a chipping hammer. Maybe it's for chipping through multiple fire hydrant repaintings to open a fire hydrant that hasn't been opened in decades.
8/6/2012 Noel
Most 5-sided tools like those were for fire hydrants.
8/6/2012 Ed
These wrenches have to be to access electric utility vaults, or fire hydrants. That’s the only place you’ll fine penta-head bolts.
8/6/2012 Dan M.
The tools are used to remove/replace the 5 sided bolt which holds a cover over a shut off valve in the ground for shutting off the main water supply to many homes or businesses. It is usually referred to as a Buffalo Box. The 5 sided size bolt was a tamper proof item to keep most people from turning back on their water after a municipality had turned it off for non payment.
8/6/2012 Monty
The tool on the left (TLC0028) is a chipping hammer and wrench to turn off and on oxy accetlyne tanks for cutting steel. The tool on the right (TLC0029) is same thing but just turns on or off the bottles.
8/7/2012 Ken
They came with large wood stoves; some air vents had bolts to open and close. The vents down at the ash door were slides, so the point was used to push the vent open or closed. A tap with the hammer would get the door to slide when hot. I still use one like the photo on the right (TLC0029). Even the early gas heaters used something like the one on the left (TLC0028). When I worked at Yellowstone, the modern 1930s heater and cook stoves had these tools hanging on the wall, but with longer handles than the one on the left (TLC0028).
8/7/2012 Neal
Fire hydrants require 5 sided wrenches. Any I have seen had longer handles for more leverage though.
8/7/2012 Danny Ray
Mueller is still in business today manufacturing everything from small shut off water valves to large city water hydrants. Their 2007 catalog, page 7.28 Curb Boxes-Optional Equipment, has the ductile iron version of TLC0028 listed as H-10323 Pentagon Key. This tool is used for operating the screws of Mueller and Buffalo type curb boxes or repair lids. One end is pointed for digging ice or dirt away from lid of box. The other end is a hammer head. Fits standard water works pentagon."
Scroll down to TLC0028, 0029 http://www.boltsantiquetools.com/tool_lovers_club_tlc0026-tlc0050.html (http://www.boltsantiquetools.com/tool_lovers_club_tlc0026-tlc0050.html)
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Thanks Noel--looks almost the same, except mine has the center hole-maybe for hanging on nail/peg in service area/truck or lanyard eye? Figured the five sided wrench end would be for water valve! :cool:
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I have one in my work truck. I use it to gain access to high voltage transformers and some switching cabinets.
Tim.