Author Topic: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches  (Read 18620 times)

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Offline johnsironsanctuary

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« Last Edit: February 14, 2014, 03:12:10 PM by johnsironsanctuary »
Top monkey of the monkey wrench clan

Offline Lewill2

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2014, 03:50:42 PM »
I could scan the article but I don't think I want to post it here due to infringement issues. As we stated before they were available with a pipe jaw as well as straight jaws. They sold a version that the head free floated and there were 2 different styles of angle lock buttons/levers. I have seen a free floating version that was frozen in the straight position and I thought this was a non-swivel head version. Dan's article states that it is a free floating style. As far as I know this was the only wrench they made. The wrenches are marked with a Nov 3, 03 Patent date but the patent was issued May 17, 1904, patent 759,869. They were made by the Offset Wrench Company Holland Michigan and marketed by Paterson, Gotfried & Hunter New York.

Offline turnnut

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2014, 09:45:07 PM »
sorry, I do not mean to throw a monkey wrench in our study of Ellis wrenches, but;

March 1904 Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal issue, they speak the new Ellis wrench in
Motor Car Supply Co. catalog, the company was located on 1427 Michigan Ave. Chicago, ILL.
the wrenches were listed as;
6" nickle $1
8" nickle $1.50
8" black  $1.35
12" nickle $1.75
12" black $1.60
16" in black only at $2.00   ????????????
this is listed as a new style wrench in 1904 made by the offset wrench co. Holland, Michigan

did they really make a 16" ???   or did they drop that idea and went with the 18" that we know of. ???

   

farflung

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #18 on: February 14, 2014, 09:54:36 PM »
further study of the Offset Wrench Co. turns up more information.

in the National Corporation Reporter Volume XXX  Feb. 23, 1905 to Aug. 17, 1905

NEW CORPORATIONS.

Offset Wrench Co. Chicago, Ill.
capital stock $50,000
statement filed & license issued Feb. 24, 1905
final certificate issued March 8, 1905   fee paid &95.00

officers of the company.
George W. Bird,   John W. Alderman,   Templeton ??

Offline Lewill2

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2014, 10:16:30 PM »
Interesting, I don't recall ever hearing of a 16, could it be a miss-print?

Offline Plyerman

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #20 on: February 15, 2014, 08:31:19 AM »
Neat old catalog John. I scrolled through the whole thing, looking at the old ads. Found this one on page 5:



My friends call me Bob. My wife calls me a lot worse.

Offline turnnut

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #21 on: February 17, 2014, 03:53:21 PM »
attention Les,

today I got tired of chopping ice and moving snow, I decided to take a break. then something told me to look for my 18" Ellis, I found it, it is just like yours. another guy in MVWC has the 18" with a serrated jaw. with yours,
that makes 3 that I know of.

as of today, I will not say that they did not make a 16" Ellis,  I have that article in favorites with the 16" listed.

yes, Les, keep looking for a 10" Ellis, why ???   after finding my 18"  I decided to check on the 12" that I was
soaking in Gibbs, the one with the broken ball on the release lever.  with my finger nail just getting a bite on
the lever, it moves & I can swing the head.

I brought it in the house to study it more and it is not a 12"    it is a 10" Ellis
on the handle is:      10 in. Ellis      reverse side:   PAT NOV 3 08   ?????????    not o4   ?????

now I need the 12"   and maybe a 16"

looks like more research.     Frank

Offline turnnut

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #22 on: February 17, 2014, 08:51:38 PM »
I had meant to say "not 03" 

I just finished going thru every patent for Nov. 3, 1908.   NOTHING ON THIS WRENCH,

the funny part is that NOV. 3, 1908 is on a Tuesday.  (a patent date)

after I clean up from Tuesdays snow storm, I am going to put the 10" to the brass wire wheel.
the lever & adjuster is now working.  (good old Gibbs penetrant.)

looking back at ebay, a 12" Ellis wrench was sold on Jan. 3, 2014 for $20.49 plus $12.35 s/h
it was in Vista, California.     

Offline Lewill2

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #23 on: February 18, 2014, 08:54:07 AM »
If that one that sold earlier this year is the one I am thinking of it was in real bad shape, like it was on the bottom of the ocean for the last 25 years.

Offline Lewill2

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #24 on: February 19, 2014, 12:26:35 PM »
That wasn't the one I was thinking of. It didn't have the locking pawl and the jaws were ground down, I missed that one.

Offline turnnut

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #25 on: February 19, 2014, 09:09:18 PM »
were you looking at the one that (killthebudahh sold ?) I think that I spelled that right.

it was sometime in Jan.

Offline Lewill2

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #26 on: February 20, 2014, 06:55:22 AM »
Yes that is the one. It comes up when you search auctions that ended.

Offline Lewill2

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #27 on: March 01, 2014, 05:57:29 PM »
Can we see some pictures of the 10 inch?

Dan Gaier sent me another response and he is going to send me some additional advertising.

Offline turnnut

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #28 on: March 01, 2014, 09:27:38 PM »
in regards to  pictures of the 10 inch Ellis, I am going to take some pictures and have my wife help me on getting them here. I'm not a computor person.

the other day I was going thru some older MJD catalogs & Fine Tool Journals. FTJ vol.54 #4 spring2005
on page 52 of the June 5, 2005 absentee auction they had 2 Ellis wrenches.
item 202  8" Ellis, missing adjuster wheel.  est. 50-100
item 218   10 " Ellis, good condition. est. 140-220

I spent most of today looking for the next issue, as they had the sold prices in it, unbelieveable, I found it.
8" Ellis had 3 bidders, sold for $26
10" Ellis had 4 bidders, sold for $95  ( listing stated: Ellis 10 IN.  PAT. NOV. 3, 08 )

i blew up the picture of the FTJ 10"  and it sure does look like a 10 to me.

lewill2, my 10 inch also had NOV. 3, 08  ???   

Offline turnnut

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Re: Ellis 10" adjustable wrenches
« Reply #29 on: June 04, 2014, 03:21:33 PM »
I am finally going to try and put up pictures of the 10 inch Ellis adjustable wrench.
« Last Edit: June 04, 2014, 03:25:10 PM by turnnut »