old adjustable wrench

[Edkat3]

Any idea what this was made for. It's got a lot of age. There is a #3 stamped on the head and a "0" at the bottom of the head where the handle turns in. No makers markings. Total length about 18". Thanks.

[OilyRascal]

Is the shank threaded whereas to come down on the working end - as if to "clamp"?

If so, and if it had a little more beef in appearance I'd want to guess a nut splitter.

[Edkat3]

The shaft is threaded so it can clamp on to various sizes but the end is machined flat. Looks like it was made to hold and not split.

[mikeswrenches]

It kind of looks like a pipe cutter with the wheel assembly missing.

Mike

[Edkat3]

It does have that pipe cutter shape but the inside top is hexed to hold a nut or bolt. No way it would spin around a pipe. There are no indications anywhere that something is missing. Tool is really solid.

[Papaw]

It looks like some fire hydrant wrenches.

[rusty]

>It looks like some fire hydrant wrenches.

Yes, it is for something with an odd number of sides, likely 5, could be a universal water meter wrench (water meters used to have pentagon tamper proof nuts) , looks a bit flimsy for a hydrant.

[mvwcnews]

It does have that pipe cutter shape but the inside top is hexed to hold a nut or bolt. No way it would spin around a pipe. There are no indications anywhere that something is missing. Tool is really solid.

Yes -- the "STANWOOD" pipe cutter  did not have "antifriction rollers" and the frame otherwise matches. ( http://books.google.com/books?id=aClRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA246&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U01T2RWW9mQgL70gPtX6Gwgjecrbw&ci=88%2C193%2C876%2C257&edge=0 )  The image is from a google digitized OIL WELL SUPPLY CO. catalog.

[Edkat3]

Interesting. Thanks for the information.

[Billman49]

Managed to find two images of pipe cutters without rollers - amongst hundred with - guess they are early ones....

2nd image are by Mark MFG Co Chicago see: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Pipe-Cutter-No-2-Mark-MFG-Co-/190900388738?nma=true&si=BXDGElde4kHOeiX5BKgpzfDio1o%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Billman49]

A search for Stanwood finds the 1859 patent, see http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=42096..

Note, the shape of the guide for the cutter head is almost identical with the one the one shown above...

[mvwcnews]

Just to muddy the waters, there also was a pipe wrench patent using that frame style, although there's no record it ever was brought to market.
( http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=441145&typeCode=0 )
I still lean toward "Stanwood pipe cutter  " minus the cutter head.

[Billman49]

Note, the pipe wrench has serrated jaws, not smooth like the pipe cutter. Difficult to see in Edkat3's picture, but they look smooth to me....