Mystery item - a wrench (spanner) perhaps?

Lee · 17th February 2013, 04:55 PM

An unregistered reader sent the below photographs and would appreciate any help in identifying the object...

Atlantia · 17th February 2013, 05:05 PM

I'd say definately a wrench Lee.
I have one the same (in the shed somewhere) apart from the handle on mine doesn't have the extra shaping near the 'socket'.

I always assumed that it was early transport or agricultural related.
Possibly an early 20thC horse-drawn cart/buggy wrench.

fernando · 17th February 2013, 05:42 PM

A wrench indeed ... a small one.
In my corner of the world people used to have this type of spanners to operate water (and other) valves, to prevent abuse.

PClemente · 17th February 2013, 06:29 PM

Have we ruled out a wheelock spanner? I have seen some very detailed spanners, but also some more primitive examples similar in style to the piece shown.

Atlantia · 17th February 2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PClemente

Have we ruled out a wheelock spanner? I have seen some very detailed spanners, but also some more primitive examples similar in style to the piece shown.

I used to wind my Wheel-lock pistol with a grandfather clock key. The square section was about a cm on each side I'd guess.

Pukka Bundook · 17th February 2013, 09:14 PM

I believe Fernando has it.
I have a couple around here somewhere, and they were for water or gas taps.
One is brass with very nicley turned handle.

Wheellock spanners are much smaller in the square, as Atlantia said.

Richard.

Tony PP · 25th May 2014, 03:40 AM

Hello, I have often found spanners(Wrench) looking very much like the one in the picture. These have been tied to old Victorian iron beds and used for doing up the corner posts. Cast iron construction and often crudely made.

Matchlock · 25th May 2014, 06:04 AM

So have I.
These are primitively cast iron late 19th century Victorian/Historismus copies ...
Your item may be such a copy as the edges seem suspiciously beveled, and the rust scars are not typical of wrought iron either.

m

17th February 2013, 04:55 PM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Mystery item - a wrench (spanner) perhaps? An unregistered reader sent the below photographs and would appreciate any help in identifying the object... Attached Images

25th May 2014, 03:40 AM	#7
Tony PP Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 26	Wrench Hello, I have often found spanners(Wrench) looking very much like the one in the picture. These have been tied to old Victorian iron beds and used for doing up the corner posts. Cast iron construction and often crudely made.

25th May 2014, 06:04 AM	#8
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	So have I. These are primitively cast iron late 19th century Victorian/Historismus copies ... Your item may be such a copy as the edges seem suspiciously beveled, and the rust scars are not typical of wrought iron either. m Last edited by Matchlock; 25th May 2014 at 09:56 PM.

17th February 2013, 05:05 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	I'd say definately a wrench Lee. I have one the same (in the shed somewhere) apart from the handle on mine doesn't have the extra shaping near the 'socket'. I always assumed that it was early transport or agricultural related. Possibly an early 20thC horse-drawn cart/buggy wrench.

17th February 2013, 05:42 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A wrench indeed ... a small one. In my corner of the world people used to have this type of spanners to operate water (and other) valves, to prevent abuse.

17th February 2013, 06:29 PM	#4
PClemente Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 42	Have we ruled out a wheelock spanner? I have seen some very detailed spanners, but also some more primitive examples similar in style to the piece shown.

17th February 2013, 09:14 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	I believe Fernando has it. I have a couple around here somewhere, and they were for water or gas taps. One is brass with very nicley turned handle. Wheellock spanners are much smaller in the square, as Atlantia said. Richard.