Today's Finds

[Wrenchmensch]

Hunting today at a flea market produced these two wrenches. One is a small 4 3/4" J H Co (Johnston Harvester Company) wrench with a 3/4" opening. It has the number 1096 embossed on its backside.

The larger wrench is a double open-ended wrench with Jas. Clayton embossed on it. Its hex openings are 1" and 1 1/8". The wrench jaws 11/16" thick(!), and the wrench is 9 3/4" long. It has the number 28 embossed on its backside.  I was unable to find Jas. Clayton anywhere, and need help identifying this wrench.

[rusty]

Scientific American, may 30, 1885 lists Jas. Clayton, Brooklyn ,NY as a maker of air compressors and rock drills....

Seeger and Guernsey's [mining] cyclopædia  1899 lists
The Clayton Air compressor works, NY, maker of rock drills...

(Other references show they made large duplex compressors, but, i dunno if they are the same Clayton, or if your wrench has anything to do with it, but it is a start anyhow......

(The Clayton Air compressor co was bought by the International Steam Pump Co ,NY, 1902 - Railway Age)

Based on a patent, Jas. seems to be James...(at least as regards air compressors)

[Which gets me an entry in The Trow 1901, James Clayton was the principal of Clayton Air Compressor Works, Cortlant st, NY]

So, the only question is, is the Clayton on your wrench the same Clayton.....