I would like to return to the Ellis wrench topic, if I may.

we have seen mention of a 10" Ellis adjustable wrench being wanted, my question is,
has anyone really seen a 10" Ellis wrench ?

3 or 4 old ads for the Ellis speaks of 4 sizes, and they list them as 6", 8", 12" & 18" and
I have never run accross an old ad for a 10" Ellis wrench.

is there anyone out there that has one in their collection, if so, may we see a picture of it.

thank you for the time.  Frank

Good point, I am trying to complete my collection of one of each size. I guess I always assumed they made a 10 inch you might be correct. I have a several 6, one 8 and one 18 still looking for a 12 and 10 if they made such an animal. I don't have all of the styles, swivel, non- swivel, pipe, old style lever and newer style ball lever. I just want one of each size.

hi Lewill2,  I have one of each, 6-8-12-18.  the 12" was my last find, I am soaking
it with Gibbs penetrant. someone butchered the ball on the lever trying to make it
move, all 4 have the ball type lever.  I am just like you, 1 of each is all I need, but
if I saw another at a real steal price, I would grab it.  if it is a better 12"
, I would not hesitate on it.  I do not know if I will have any luck with
my 12".   but that is the fun part, trying to bring it back to life.

I think that some of us lives by the motto; "keep nostalgia alive- restore something."

thank you for your input, Frank 

There is an article in the Fall 2013 issue of the Fine Tool Journal about the Ellis wrench.  The author, Dan Gaier, wrote an excellent piece about this wrench.  He covered all the different variations, much as you two have done.  He says that the wrench was made in 6, 8, 10, 12, and 18 inch sizes, but the only pictures posted are of the 6, 8, and 12 inch sizes.  So while excellent information, it does not definitively answer the 10 inch question.

Unfortunately Dan did not post an email address.

Mike

I forgot about that article, I get the magazine also. I have Dan's email I can ask him about the 10 inch ones I can also ask if Dick Lawton has one in his collection.

Sounds like we may get to the bottom of this after all.  Good luck!

Mike

thanks Lewill2,  I will be watching this one.

my gut feeling is that it was just an assumption  that a 10"  was made.

like other tool makers made 6"-8"-10"-12"  etc.

I never knew about the 18" until I found one a couple of years ago, then I
sterted digging deaper into old ads, yup, there was the 18"  and the 12"
which I have added, not pretty tho.   

but have not seen any ads for the 10" as I stated earlier. 

hopefully Dan will straighten us out.  Frank

Dan Gaier replied back that neither he or Dick Lawton have a 10 inch but he thought he had found an auction listing in his research that listed a 10 inch. He was going to try and find that listing for me but no reply yet. I'll try and find time to look at old Donnelly auctions for one too. Dan also stated that he doesn't have an 18 inch either.

I may have found what caused the error in the article Dan wrote, there was a Donnelly auction listing from his October 20, 2007 auction that listed a 10 inch Ellis but the picture shows the wrench is a 12 inch. The wrench sold for $198.00. I wish I could find a 12 inch for that much now.

Thanks for the update Les.  A question though.  Can I infer that $198 is cheap for a 12 in. version?  What do you think one would be worth today?

Mike

I would pay that much for a decent one in a minute. I haven't seen one in a number of years that was for sale. The 6 inch ones seem to appear more frequently then the other sizes. I have only seen one 18 with my own eyes and I own it now. I have heard of others just never seen them in the flesh.

If anyone has a 12 inch Ellis for sale I'll make an offer on it after seeing pictures.

Thanks, I'll keep my eyes open at Flywheelers next week.  A lot of wrenches there.

Mike

Les,  is there any chance that you could scan and post the FTJ article? This is brand is a new one to me and I would think others as well.
John

I found this 1907 article in a google search.

http://books.google.com/books?id=XJk7AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA8-PA31&lpg=RA8-PA31&dq=ellis+wrench&source=bl&ots=Zf6MIo0eEg&sig=3g6AYmy--Pwu1nDW_mlb5stnTGI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lmz-UvvUL5TOyAGhq4G4Cg&ved=0CEkQ6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=ellis%20wrench&f=false