I have a collected a few old adjustable wrenches over the years & most of them are fairly plain & functional looking, these two are my favorites being different because I think they look great (though probably not so functional!).





   The largest is 10.5" marked "Somborn", the last letter not stamped fully so could be an "M"?
   The smaller at 9" marked what looks like "Montan Werks" written in a small circle.

    Any info appreciated as I know nothing about them other than they are from Europe.

Pretty cool looking....kind of a "clamp wrench"

https://www.google.ca/search?q=early+european+wrenches&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHuIup9IjTAhVpjVQKHTJ4DFwQ_AUIBigB&biw=1246&bih=866#tbm=isch&q=antique+european+clamp+wrenches&*&imgrc=_

Coachman's wrench style from way back.

  I've always assumed they were pretty old, & guessed they were probably from the days of "coach bolts" (if that's the correct term), square headed nuts & bolts or wood screws rather than  the hexagonal nut 'n' bolts as we have now.  Right?

  It looks as though they were also designed to be used like a hammer if screwed up tight.  I've seen a few at sales with broken handles that is a weak spot being wood supported by the tang.

 

Quote from: able_walker on April 03, 2017, 01:26:51 PM
Pretty cool looking....kind of a "clamp wrench"

  Thanks, I haven't heard the term "clamp wrench", I never know what to call them! :-)

The tool guy in me says, Nice looking old wrenches! Seems like every tool from back then was designed to double as a hammer. :-D

The machinist in me says, Wow, a left-hand square-thread, and a left-hand double-start thread. Strong, and fast acting. Custom made taps for sure. Cool that they were doing things like that 100+ years ago.

Don't see things like those very often.  Definitely dates back to the 19th century.  Wonder if the COES adjustable, Monkey wrench made it to the UK?  The RR  and steam ships suddenly created a need for tools. 

Quote from: Plyerman on April 04, 2017, 04:43:59 PM
The tool guy in me says, Nice looking old wrenches! Seems like every tool from back then was designed to double as a hammer. :-D

The machinist in me says, Wow, a left-hand square-thread, and a left-hand double-start thread. Strong, and fast acting. Custom made taps for sure. Cool that they were doing things like that 100+ years ago.

   They are really interesting to play with, as you've already worked out rotating the handle moves both jaws, however the lower jaw moves about twice the distance of the top one!

   It appears the heavier lower thread makes for fast adjustment then the finer top thread helps to "nip it up" on a fastener.  Maybe :-)

    I know exactly what you mean about older tools doubling as hammers....   lots of modern tools double as hammers when used by a certain type of person!

Quote from: john k on April 04, 2017, 08:45:14 PM
Don't see things like those very often.  Definitely dates back to the 19th century.  Wonder if the COES adjustable, Monkey wrench made it to the UK?  The RR  and steam ships suddenly created a need for tools.

       The smaller one of these I've had as long as I can remember & came from the UK, the larger I picked up a couple of years ago in Spain.
     I think France produced these as well under the Peugeot brand name.

    I have the COES style of wrench you mention but can't remember the make, I'll dig all my other adjustables out & post some pics though I consider these two the most interesting.

   So here is most of my adjustables, is the style of the third along COES?



   Left to right, top then bottom row.

  A couple of probably not very interesting or old! "Footprints", England  6" & 10".
  Really beat up unmarked 10" (COES?)
  Two "Preper" wrenches, 10" & 5", french I think.
  Two 6" Abingdon wrenches, the first marked  "Abingdon war finish", second marked "Abingdon, trade mark King Dick No2".
  Bottom row, 6" "Springfield Mass USA"
  6" unmarked double head.
  4.5" "Richards Sheffield" other side "Tent Sheffield" with 1943 & war department mark.
  4.5" "King Dick".
  4.5"  "Richards Bros&Sons Sheffield" other side "Tent Sheffield" 1944.
 

Same styles as Coes, but looks like a Girard made in Girard Pennsylvania.

 bottom row, 2nd on left.  I have one like it,  think it is from Germany.

the 6 inch Springfield, does it have any trade mark letters ??

Quote from: Papaw on April 05, 2017, 03:02:30 PM
Same styles as Coes, but looks like a Girard made in Girard Pennsylvania.

Thanks, it certainly does look like the one you pictured, I'll look again for any markings.

Quote from: turnnut on April 05, 2017, 09:23:47 PM
bottom row, 2nd on left.  I have one like it,  think it is from Germany.

the 6 inch Springfield, does it have any trade mark letters ??

It's stamped with a simple shield(?) with an S in it, Springfield, drop forging _  _ followed by something I can't make out, then lastly Springfield Mass USA.

Quote from: turnnut on April 05, 2017, 09:23:47 PM
bottom row, 2nd on left.  I have one like it,  think it is from Germany.

I have one sort of like that, marked Transatlantic Clock & W. Co. N.Y. and then below that it says GERMANY. It has a hollow handle, which has a screwdriver inside.