Tool Talk

Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: Northwoods on March 23, 2019, 08:25:19 PM

Title: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: Northwoods on March 23, 2019, 08:25:19 PM

It's a Petersen Helix 8", and it's frozen, not likely to turn again, but it was manufactured in Kansas right down I-35 from my great North Woods.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HELIX-USA-8IN-Sliding-Adjust-Pliers-made-by-Petersen-Tool-El-Dorado-Kansas/202633781129?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3De676f4b2b2fa41d9b4ae885dd40ecb82%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D264145517247%26itm%3D202633781129&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851


Mine likely looked like this at one time.  A look at the patent and its ancestors suggests that it relies on fortyleven moving parts. 
A nice example--and they are available--is either NOS or was used lightly, cleaned daily, and oiled, stored in a hermetically sealed mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnell's back porch.  It was available (for a short time) in black, gold, or chrome.


The patent:

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=3,555,939&type=

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: Yadda on March 23, 2019, 11:02:43 PM

Never give up hope.  A good lubricant soak might help.

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: p_toad on March 23, 2019, 11:56:24 PM

What he said...a good lube soak can't hurt it any if it's not moving at all.   Can we assume that screw doesn't come out either?
(of that if it does all those myriad parts leap out onto the floor never to be seen again?) :tongue:

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: Northwoods on March 24, 2019, 12:24:01 AM

Looks like the little round adjustment thingie is riveted in place, and so it looks like that side plate is there to stay.
I managed to get the jaw to wiggle a bit, but the mechanism is a no-go as of now.

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: mvwcnews on March 24, 2019, 09:03:45 AM

Those HELIX wrenches are notorious.  The investors got burned, sued like crazy.  The end purchasers got burned -- they worked once or twice until a little dust or gummed oil made them unworkable.  Oddly enough, there were several attempts to bring the design to market -- people so fascinated by the potential "quick adjust" feature that they overlooked that real working conditions are incompatible with that design. ( http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=3555939&typeCode=0 ) is the patent.

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: Northwoods on March 24, 2019, 09:32:05 AM

Though the wrench claims to be of stainless steel, it is obvious that the bevel gears and the worm drive, the innards, are not stainless. 
The thing is a hopeless Rube Goldberg contraption.  Why in the world would someone invest his time and resources in such a device?

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: coolford on March 24, 2019, 12:16:01 PM

The wrench is stainless, but the helix shaft is bronze as is the slider that operates on it. Doesn't take much grime to bugger it up.  However, if you have a gold plated one in the presentation box unused it will still work fine.

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: Northwoods on March 24, 2019, 04:57:42 PM

Believe me, there is no gold here. 

Title: Re: I couldn't resist this wacky wrench.
Post by: lptools on March 24, 2019, 05:38:26 PM

Hello, Coolford. Is that another piece of your amazing collection?? Regards, Lou