My first French Wrench

[lbgradwell]

Hi All!

This is a re-post of a thread started by Wayne from the nuked site about those odd Peugeot wrenches... Those wrenches were actually discussed in an earlier thread too.

01-16-2011, 05:15 AM
lzenglish
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My first French Wrench
I found this unusual looking French wrench today, and had to have it. It is marked #12 on one end, and #14 on the other. I'm not sure if it is a special application, or gimmick wrench? Anyone have one like it?

Wayne

01-16-2011, 02:53 PM
BRwrench
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I wonder if it is supose to be a ratchet action open end wrench.


01-16-2011, 03:02 PM
rusty
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There's an entire thread about that wrench:http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/s...ead.php?t=3870

Makes a great what's it item : )
rusty

01-16-2011, 03:08 PM
lzenglish's
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I see the thread now, and wonder why I missed it, Thanks.

Wayne

01-20-2011, 04:39 AM
strelnik
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Location: People's Socialist Republic of Michigan
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This is a wrench that's used as a special tool in several sizes to adjust suspension members. Peugeot made it like that so you had to come to the dealership to get the fix.

It's on the 403, 504 and 505 cars.

I have seen those wrenches at a friend's place, he likes them crazy cars.
strelnik

01-20-2011, 04:48 AM
lzenglish
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Thanks for the Info. I wondered if it fit a specilized fastner head! I thought it was a gimmick speed ratchet wrench like the ones that slip and grab, like crafstman sells, and I own. I wonder how many different sizes these came in? So far I have only seen two, including mine.

Wayne

01-22-2011, 03:21 AM
couchspring
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French copy of New Britain ''Nut Master'' wrench,see alloy artifacts.
couchspring

01-22-2011, 03:24 AM
skipskip
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Oh WRENCH, I thought he said...........


01-22-2011, 03:40 AM
lzenglish
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And the plot Thickens! Nice work couchspring!. So, this was a desgn feature much like the open end ratchet wrenches that craftsman, and other tool makers made, of which I own a set. I always refer to this type of wrench as a gimmick wrench, but that is just a term I use for a wrench that does not look like the normal run of the mill types. As A.A. says, new Britian claims this design was developed to make better contact with the bolt, or the nut surface. Very Interesting!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Again,

Wayne

There is a thread at the GJ regarding the same wrenches which provides some more information - primarily the meaning of "SURPANS" - which seems to solve any mystery as to the wrench's purpose.

I was wondering if this can be reconciled with strelnik's assertion that the wrenches were to adjust suspensions. If this was a dealer tool, it would not have been included in a toolkit!

Can anyone ID this unique MYSTERY WRENCH ... ??
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100839

[fflintstone]

After wasting a lot of time with Google language, it is basically a F#$%ing wrench.
All the words on it are trade or proper names and do not translate into English.

[lbgradwell]

All the words on it are trade or proper names and do not translate into English.

???!!! Did you actually read the thread?!

Everything translates with the exception of "Vana-Lion"; that is very likely Peugeot's trade name for an vanadium-alloy steel.

But my question above is whether the tool is, in fact, a specialized dealer-only piece for adjusting suspensions or an early flank-drive type of general wrench. It's not both...

[lzenglish]

 I just revisited the A.A. "New Britain Version" of this wrench, and it "Looks" Identical in design. A.A. says the intended wrench design was to make a better open end wrench version, allowing the wrench to Grab on the Flats instead of the Corners. I saw your postings on the GJ, and I'm curious as to who made the first copy of it myself. ie. New Britain, or Peugeot?

Wayne

New Britain copy attached

[lauver]

LG,

I can't answer your question, but I can share a photo or two of my "First French Wrench".  French wrenches are extremely rare in Belton, TX:





Picked it up just last weekend.  I'd like to find the rest of the set.  Let's see, it took me 60 years to find the first one...

EDIT:  Forgot to mention... on the flipside of the Facom wrench it's stamped "VANACHROME", sorta like "Vana-Lion".