H and E 14-inch Pipe Wrench

[Wrenchmensch]

This 14-inch H and E arrived today.  A couple of hours were spent cleaning it and lubing it, first with oil which did not work, then with Sil-Glyde grease which did work. The patent date is March 27, 1923.  Lewill showed one of these, but I am not sure how long it was.

[Lewill2]

Same as that one. The pipe wrench versions are longer then the nut versions.

[johnsironsanctuary]

Cool tool WM, do you know anything about the company?

[Nolatoolguy]

Very interesting wrench.....

[Wrenchmensch]

From Ken Cope's American Wrench Makers 1830 -1930, 2nd Edition comes this:

"H. and E. Wrench Co., New Bedford, MA

Operated by E. J. Evans and G. E. Hemphill who had previously been associated with the UNIVERSAL TOOL CO., Salt Lake City, UT.  The firm made HandE quick adjusting nut wrenches (Schulz #496) patented September 20, 1921 by Evans and Hemphill and HandE quick-adjusting pipe wrenches (Schulz #675), patented March 27, 1923 by Evans and Hemphill."

[timewarp]

i just picked up one of these, but couldn't figure out what was what until i saw the photos.  mine is missing the sliding adjustment thing.  nice quality steel.  bet i don't find one of the adjustment slide things.

[Wrenchmensch]

i just picked up one of these, but couldn't figure out what was what until i saw the photos.  mine is missing the sliding adjustment thing.  nice quality steel.  bet i don't find one of the adjustment slide things.

Timewarp:

Yeah, I also bought a HandE monkey wrench without the adjustment slide.  I took it to several machine shops to see about getting a slide made.  One guy wouldn't take the job.  The second guy offered to send it to a specialty shop which would drill out a small block of steel, etc.  I was informed the cost would be $100 +.  I found another one (complete) on eBay a few days later for about $10.

Bob W.

[Lewill2]

I believe the slide is the same for all 3 styles. One of mine has pieces missing from the sprial screw inside the handle but it still operates.

[timewarp]

interesting about the one found on ebay for $10.   right now someone has one on a different site - vintage tools.net-   $145.  mine was a buck, garage sale.  i tried to give it away.  now, it is "too valuable" and i'll probably be stuck with it for a while.