I got cheated

[jimwrench]

 Bought a Walworth pipe wrench today. It is clearly marked 48 in but its only 42 1/2 in long. I guess I could screw the jaw out a little and make it 48 in. It weighs 29 1/2 lbs. Have zero use for it but fellow auction goer said (I saw the look in your eye and knew you were going to buy it) Guess I could make a mail box post out of it.

[lbgradwell]

Cool wrench! It would have come home with me too...

[Lewill2]

You got the rare compact 48.

[Nolatoolguy]

You got the rare compact 48.

Sounds like something you would read on a overpriced craigslist add.

[turnnut]

sounds like some of us older folks, gets shorter with age.

I would also be the person carrying it out to my truck.

would make "one heck-of-a-door-knocker."

weld it to a steel post and hang plants on it.

[mvwcnews]

While they are  here & readily available I'll copy a photo or two & update the DATAMP entry for the patent.
The handle is proportionally slim relative  to the head when you  compare it to the 8" size.

[Chillylulu]

Sounds like they used the same method as big screen tv's.

That wasn't a 48" wrench, it was a 48" class wrench.

Chilly

[OilyRascal]

Begs the question:  What is the method, from a engineering/design perspective, of measurements?  With flat screens, I have been told they are measured diagonally from corner to corner (the larger measurement).

[Chillylulu]

Begs the question:  What is the method, from a engineering/design perspective, of measurements?  With flat screens, I have been told they are measured diagonally from corner to corner (the larger measurement).

True enough, but now there are "classes" too.

Viewing area should be within 2" +/- of the class size. The term "class" reflects the fact that screens have different size bezels.

Chilly

PS: Class size still isn't enough to explain your 3.5" shortfall.  In the dirty part of my mind I keep assuming the wrench length was made by the same person whose wife has been told that 4" is actually 6" for so long that she believes it.