Huge, Old Wrenches - Any Idea

[MANDE]

I've come across two wrenches and would like to know if anyone has a clue what their use and value may be.  The larger one is stamped "TRANSIT TRADEMARK REG US PAT  OFF."  The smaller one is adjustable.  Smaller weighs about 30 lbs and larger about 50.  That's just a wag as I do not have a scale. The shoe is a ladies size 8 1/2 for scale. I'm having issues getting pictures to attach so this may take another post.  The photos aren't showing in the preview, and they are originally 350KB which is too large.

[Aunt Phil]

Sucker rod tongs for assembling the pumprod traveling down a well.

[OilyRascal]

Widow Makers

[Nolatoolguy]

Whats the very end look like from the side.

They almost look like tire chain tools to me.

[MANDE]

Side view as requested.  I've got these posted on another forum and no one has been certain.  I wonder if the post above about wrenches for a well is for certain.  Thanks for your time and ideas.

[anglesmith]

They are listed in early catalogues (1890s 1910s) as pipe tongs, a plumber's tool! The smaller sizes are often mistakenly called blacksmith tongs.
Graeme

[MANDE]

Thanks for taking the time to share this!

[Bus]

Common pipe tongs. Even though patents start in the 1850's they don't seem to command much interest from collectors. Size start under 12" and go to over 6'.

Patents for one of the oldest commonly found types were issued Nov. 30, 1858 and Jul. 07, 1868 to J.R. Brown of Boston, Mass. and manufactured by E. H. Ashcroft Co. also of Boston.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?pn=24927&id=16726&set=4

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=79724&type=

A list of 169 pipe tong patents on DATAMP is here:

http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/displayPics.php?source=query

[anglesmith]

Thanks Bus for that detail, I didn't know they went back that far! I assume you ment 12" long to over 6' foot long.
Graeme

[OilyRascal]

I would say these are TUBING pipe tongs, rather than "sucker rod" - based on the size.  My father (who knows well) says "they will work you to death".

[wvtools]

I had a giant pair of those one time that must have weighed 75 pounds.   I carried them to show after show, and finally sold them for 20.00 just to get rid of them.