A comparison of these three wrenches shows the differences in design occurring over the period of the 16 years, between the 10-inch 1866 wrench (bottom) made by James MacLaren of Albany, NY and the two 1882 wrenches above it (Agricultural Engine-top and Tower and Lyon's Engineers wrench (middle). A key difference lies in MacLaren's use of a leaf spring to drive the lower jaw versus the use of a coil spring in the two later wrenches.  A second difference is the addition of the grooved barrel in the later wrenches. A third difference is the absence of slanted jaw grooves in the earlier wrench.
Overall though, the wrenches are mechanically similar in function.

That's the kind of wrench research we like! Thanks, Bob!

Wrenchmensch,  Is the fluted portion attached to the nut, and is it open at the bottom so that it can go down over a portion of the handle, thus allowing the jaws to open to the maximum?j

Mike

Yes, the fluted portion is open at the bottom. It, the hexagonal section above it, and the grooved section above the hexagonal section are all one piece.

Here is a little more information on the Tower & Lyon version.  This information came from the 1904 Tower & Lyon catalog reprint. 

The wrenches with the short nut were made in 3 sizes of 10 in.,12 in.,and 15 in. The long sleeve nut, i.e. the fluted version,  were made in the following 5 sizes, 10 in., 12 in., 15 in.,18 in., and 21 in.
T & L had this to say about "The long sleeve nut":  designed and made exclusively by us for our Engineers Wrench, combines two important advantages, viz:--the polygonal section, permitting the application of another wrench when extra power is required, and the parallel  fluted section which affords the best possible grip for the hand.  They actually show a cut of a SOE wrench that looks to have been expressly made to fit the nut on the wrench to aid in tightening the jaws.

These same wrenches were also made in a version that had a grooved pawl(the moveable part that bears against the pipe) that held a pipe cutting wheel.  The pipe cutting version was not made in the 10 in. size.

An explanation was also given for using the "oblique parallel grooves" on the pawl, rather than the more common method of cutting the grooves parallel to the long axis of the pipe.  Their logic was that having the grooves at an oblique angle allowed 3 teeth to be in contact at all times, along with giving a more sure grip. 

Mike

Thanks, Mike!  I will keep an eye out for the grooved jaw version as well as the SOE wrench.

Has anyone here ever seen one with the pipe cutter attachment? I've seen them advertised and listed in catalogs but I don't think I have ever actually seen an example?

Bus;


My search for unusual wrenches, as are the searches of so many other wrench maniacs, ain't over 'til the fat lady sings (and she isn't even here yet!).

I'll keep my eye peeled for the grooved jaw T & L pipe wrench.


Bob