Hey, I'm new here. I picked up this wrench at a yard sale because I thought it looked cool. I cannot find it anywhere. If anyone can let me know how old it is or anything else about, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

Dont know any thing about its history but it sure is a neat looking old wrench.

[quote ]
I picked up this wrench at a yard sale because I thought it looked cool. [/quote]

Careful, those thoughts can lead to buying more tools !

It is a neat looking wrench, I cant help ID it, but would be surprised if you cant get an answer here.

Brian L.

Per Copes:

Maker, c1871, of wrenches patented August 1, 1871, by G.E. Phillips.  Incorporated in 1874 with $8000 capital as the Walton Wrench Mfg. Co.  The firm failed in 1875 and was reorganized as the Girard Wrench Co.

A relatively rare wrench.  Good find!

Mike

You have a good eye. Your wrench is interesting, and signifigant :)

Walton started as the T.B. Walton Company, and was renamed The Walton Wrench Manufacturing company. The intention was to produce several sizes of a wrench based on patent 117679  (Aug 1 1871, G.B. Phillips) and half the money came from Girard.

Yes, *that* Girard....

The venture failed, and was sold at Bankrupcy in 1875, and the assets became The Girard Wrench Manufacturing Co....

[mike beat me to it by 2 minutes LOL!]

Thanks for the info. I did find one place that said Walton Wrench was a reorganized at Girard Wrench but had no clue how old it was. So how rare is it? Also, about how much would it be worth? Thanks again for the info.

Tricky,  I made an assumption that I shouldn't have made with the reference to Copes.  This reference is to Kenneth L. Cope and his book American Wrench Makers 1830-1930.  An excellent reference that is still available.  I would highly recommend it if you want learn more about wrenches and their manufacturers.

Mike

Not strictly a pipe wrench.  Pipe wrenches generally have one jaw that will flex/flop in relation to the other*, and teeth pointing in opposing directions, to get a grip on round pipe when tightening/loosening it.  The vernacular term for what you've got, last I looked, is "monkey wrench" (I stand ready to be corrected by the more knowledgeable wrench-meisters here), useful for nuts and bolts or other things with parallel sides that can fit between the jaws.

*Although there are also chain and strap pipe wrenches that work on a slightly different although related principle.

These are described as "screw wrenches" in 19th Century army manuals.  Commonly called monkey wrenches.   Came in a lot of different sizes for bigger and smaller usually square nuts.

Nice early and uncommon wrench.  I'd have bought it too!

Thanks again everybody. Any idea what it would be worth?

Willing buyer-willing seller will answer that question.

One odd feature of the WALTON -- the jaws are not at 90 degrees to the shank -- that & the form of the adjusting nut are aspects of the Phillips patent.

I thought something looked bent, the jaws to shank & the handle. but that is the design?