vintage gear wrench?

[glassdave]

Hi All new guy here. Found a little something i could use some help in identifying. Kinda cool old gear wrench type tool. Appears to be made be Alden Worc??? (cant read the last two or three letters. Also has Pat. Apl.

Wondering if anyone has seen one like this. Has a steel wheel that has ramped teeth in a groove that the one wire from the handle rides in giving it the ratchet action. I dont think it was part of a set but maybe a purpose built tool from maybe a machine or maybe an assembly line tool. Anyone got any ideas? I only have the one and it does not say what size it is (fits half inch)

I found it in some stuff my uncle left, He collected vintage tools of all kinds. Passed away several years ago and i ran across this while moving my shop to a new location. We still have much of his collection, the unique stuff. 

[Lewill2]

Walden ratchet tire wrench patented July 20, 1909, Schulz #150. They also came with a square hole for square nuts. Originally Walden Mfg Co, Worcester Mass later they changed the name to Walden-Worcester Inc. They come up every so often. Info From Copes American Wrench Makers 1830-1930.

[glassdave]

cool thanks, its a neat little wrench. As a way to keep my uncle close i have several of his "finds" peppered through my own tools and office. I may have to take some pics and post 'em up here. We still have about a half dozen vintage wooden machinist tool chests full of stuff. 

In one box he had amassed tools made from non traditional materials, bronze, barillium etc. Use to joke about opening up a zepplin (blimp) shop because most appeared to be anti spark related lol called it "Mikes Blimp Works"


Why is this called a tire wrench? seems to small to actually take a tire off . . .

[Lewill2]

Think early 1900's tires not today's tires with what we now call lug nuts. Tires that bolted to the spokes of wooden wheels etc.

By all means post pictures we love to see what everybody else has. I have several Ampco non sparking wrenches, my largest is about 18 1/2 inches long.

[Lewill2]

By the way stop by the Welcome Board and tell us about yourself and your collections. Welcome aboard!

[oldtools]

neat wrench, please take photos of other Cool Tools you have...