Mystery item - a wrench (spanner) perhaps?

[Lee]

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

[Atlantia]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Matchlock]

Hi Lee,

Heureka - I finally identified your object in discussion:
It is a wheellock spanner indeed, closely datable to ca. 1590-1600, and a historically important piece as well, of noble provenance. It was part of a caliverman's accouterments to a wheellock musket - and it was kept on the leather frog, together with the powder flask!
But there is even more to your spanner:
It was part of the accouterments of a member of the famous Trabanten-Leibgarde (body guard) of the Electors of Saxony, Christian I, † 25. September 1591,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...ctor_of_Saxony

or Christian II, † 23. June 1611,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...ctor_of_Saxony

Enjoy your important spanner!

Attached please find a photo of exactly your type of spanner, together with the fine flask and leather frog, all of high-quality craftsmanship.
This ensemble is preserved in the Rüstkammer (armory) in Dresden, Saxony - see attachments!

The other attachments depict fine Saxon flasks and their frogs from various sources: The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, from auction houses, dealers sites etc, as well as contemporary portraits of both Christian I and II, Electors of Saxony.

For more on such flasks and their frogs, please see my threads:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...man%27s+flasks

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...man%27s+flasks


Please also see my threads on wheellock spanners 1520-1650:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...llock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...l-lock+spanner



Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Contemporay portraits of the Royal Electors of Saxony, Christian I and Christian II.

m

[Tony PP]

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]

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