Hello from the UK

[GregP]

Hello and greetings from "sunny" England.    I am currently researching my family history and I have discovered that my great great grandfather was John Palmer of John Palmer and Sons, toolmakers in Birmingham UK.   This was a small family business certainly in operation around 1850 to 1860.  I have found limited information about the company and am seeking more.  I have managed to track down one example of a Clyburn wrench manufactured by the company and have been lucky enough to purchase it.   The company would appear to have manufactured tools of all different types and was based in an area known as the "Black Country" which is famous for pretty much being the birthplace of industry as we know it.

I would be extremely grateful to hear if anybody is aware of the company and has any information on it.  I would also love to see any pictures of wrenches made by the company.   

I realise this is a long shot but I am aware that the company did export to the US and you all appear to be the world's experts on wrenches!! There is nothing like this in the UK which I find a bit surprising. 

[Papaw]

Welcome to Tool Talk, Greg!
There are tool collectors in England-

Northern Group
of

TATHS (
TOOLS AND TRADES HISTORY SOCIETY of ENGLAND)
which Hugh, David and myself, organise. We would like to
extend an open invitation to any of your readers to contact any of us if they are visiting the UK and would like to attend
one of our meetings. They would be most we
lcome. Thank you for your consideration and with best regards. Jim.
Dr.
James P. Carrick, Neasham Hill House, Neasham, Darlington, County Durham, England DL2 1PJ. Tel : +(011) 44 1325
722006, Cell: +(011) 44 7974 925941. jim.carrick@live.co.uk

[Nolatoolguy]

Welcome to tool talk, from the other side of the pond.

[Chillylulu]

Greg,

Welcome to you from sunny Denver, Colorado!

Good luck on your research. Have you seen any literature, advertisements, catalogs, company records etc? Can you send pictures of the wrench you have? Does it have any distinctive marks, script, or logos?

Regards,

Chilly

[turnnut]

welcome from rainy Massachusetts Greg,

for some reason, the name Clyburn rings a bell ???

these are the times that I wish that I made a list of my wrenches.

Frank

p.s. my birthplace is Palmer, Massachusetts

[Charles Garrett]

Hi, I am now living in Kirkland, WA, USA.  I had  a great time finding tools at boot fairs and antique shops when in UK.  I would searly like to find a small hand sickle(Reaping hook) marked Garrett.  I saw one at the Long House Museum in Leiston, East Anglia which was the final assy   building for the Garrett works. Garrett engines turn up often at Steam Rallies .  My late girl friend was WElsh.  We and later My son and I attended Indian Motocycle rallies in Scotland and Horsham England.  In 2011 We shipped my 1911 Indian IOM TT Racer to Nottingham and with our British team took it to IOM for the centenary celebration of both the "Mountain" course and Indian winning 1,2,3 that year.  Great adventure- My last.  Chuck Garrett

[GregP]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes folks.

My research is at an early stage but already it appears that details are going to be rare.   The company was one of many small family affairs that sprang up in the Birmingham area as technology in steel working grew.  The amount of foundries and steel works in the area and the subsequent smog and smoke are one theory as to why the area became known as the Black Country.   I have so far found one advert for the company along with 2 pictures of their products.  Unfortunately the pics are too big to attach on here.

I was under the impression (from the company advert) that the wrench I've purchased is known as a Clyburn wrench but from further research I'm not so sure now. Although the advert clearly uses the term I'm not sure which diagram it refers to.  The wrench I've bought is of the type shown in the bottom diagram on the advert. Richard Clyburn was an engineer based in Gloucestershire, not far from where I live in Worcestershire. He is accredited with inventing the adjustable spanner in about 1843 I think.

I believe all tools from my great great grandfather's factory were marked with the company name and stamped with the image of a crown.
 
Charles, your TT trip does indeed sound like an adventure.   I've never been but it is a classic event.  The circuit is legendary and the riders are certifiably insane!!

[OilyRascal]

Welcome, Greg.  I can't help, but I think you've come to the right place.  Best of luck with your research.

[turnnut]

Greg,
it may be possible that the John Palmer & Son's Co. made that rachet handle wrench and
used the Clyburn patented adjustable head.

I believe that you may find a patent for the John Palmer handle and also a patent for the
Clyburn adjustable wrench.

this is only a guess on my part, Frank

[bear_man]

Hello and welcome from north central Idaho.  Per the advert: since the bottom tool clearly ratchets, it seems to me that the upper tool is the "Solid Screw Clyburn Spanner."

[Papaw]

The ad says they are combined, so I think the second one is it.

[Lewill2]

Welcome from Pennsylvania, I have 2 sizes of the Palmer wrench that is pictured in the advertisement you posted. They are like the top wrench in the ad. 

[GregP]

Wow Lewill.  I have not seen any examples of those types.  Are they marked with the company name and crown?   Would you be able to post pictures of them or send me pics to my personal Email? 

[Lewill2]

There is one on eBay at the moment.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-12-PALMER-SCREW-ADJUST-WRENCH-/301279614904?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item4625aa17b8

I have 2, one is just under 7 inches long and is marked Palmer and Son(S) in an arch with a Crown under the arch and Registered and a un-readable date in a straight line under the Crown. The second wrench is about 10 inches long and isn't marked. This design wrench is similar to Chamberlain patent 6,210 patented March 20, 1849.

[oldtools]

Welcome & Aloha from Hawaii...