The History of the Monkey Wrench

Last modified: 990517

(Hey, as Jimmy Buffett says,
. . ."There's a little bit of fruitcake left in every one of us!" . . . . . 8^)   )

From: jao@dsg-inc.com (John Olson)
John A. Olson wrote:

Mike,
  In pursuit of one of my hobbies (I am a major collector of
monkey wrenches, with over 200 of the kind you modeled in 3D and
photographed).  These type are referred to as "auto" wrenches as
they came in auto tool kits in cars sold during the Model T -
Model A era.  At flea markets they call them "Ford" wrenches and
if you're lucky you can find them with the Ford logo stamped on
the upper jaw or the side of the movable jaw.
                                                John  (1997)


Mike,
  Your description is accurate. In my collection I have "monkey
wrenches" that range in size from 4 and a half inches to 18 inches.
The small ones are usually referred to as pocket or bicycle monkey
wrenches.
  I read a book a while back entitled 'Did Monkeys Really Invent the
Monkey Wrench?' and the book explained the history (about 3 versions
of how the wrenches came to be named Monkey wrenches).  One of the
early toolmakers was named Monk, it was explained.  The wooden handled
wrenches are also referred to as Monkey wrenches as long as the jaws
are smooth and parallel (otherwise you're looking at a pipe wrench)
(like that 46 inch one the little girl is holding)
  Three excellent sources of information on wrenches are the following
books:

"Antique and Unusual Wrenches"  by Alfred Schulz (deceased)
"My First 1000 Wrenches"  Donald H. Snyder (another collector)
"My Second 1000 Wrenches"  Donald  H. Snyder
                                  (he's working on book 3 now)

There is a national wrench club  (Missouri Valley Wrench Club) for
serious collectors, or even amateurs like myself.  I started
collecting "accidentally" by buying a small box of tools at an
estate auction for $2.00.  It had  2 monkey wrenches in it and I was
on my way.   Of course by now I realize that collecting *anything*
is either a disease or an excuse to not do whatever it is you should
be doing when you're 'collecting' instead.

You can use any of the information I've given you but if you
want the real poop you should write to Mr. Snyder at 12925 Woodworth
Road, New Springfield, Ohio 44443.  His books are $12.95 plus $1.95
postage.  He does not, I believe,  have an ip address.
                                                John  (1997)

Mike,
  Right you are.  Crescent wrenches are not considered monkey
wrenches but the wooden handled ones with the parallel jaws
perpendicular to the handle which is integrated with the top
(fixed) jaw are even though the worm gear has the threads on
the inside rather than the outside.  There are even bike wrenches
where the adjusting screw is embedded in the center of the handle
rather than at the edge (these are called center-adjust bike
monkey wrenches).  I have some beautiful old 'crescent' type
wrenches with curved handles (called adjustable S-wrenches).
  I saw one at an antique show with adjustable heads at each end
(called a double adjustable S-wrench) and the guy wanted $450 for
it.  Like other endeavors in life you can spend just about as much
money as you want on your collection.  Needless to say, I passed on
that wrench.  My collection is mainly derived from flea markets and
garage sales.
                                                John  (1997)

Mike,
  Since our last correspondence I have probably trrripled my wrench
collection.  I belong to the Missouri Valley Wrench Club (the only
national wrench club that I know of). I have not attended any meetings
yet (they meet twice a year in places like York Nebraska or Springfield
Illinois.  One of the members was Don Snyder who lived in NE Ohio and
Florida.  He had written the two books (I mentioned before) and was
working on the third book last fall when he died.  I received a brochure
in the mail that they were auctioning off his collection at his residence
in Ohio.  It's a seven hour drive from here.  I went with my son-in-law
and bought some of the wrenches. When I got home I told everyone who knows
that I collect them that I had been to "Wrench Heaven".  That collection is
divided into 150 people now and could never be equaled again.

                                                John  (990309)

Just a note to inform you that my great uncle Johan Petter Johansson, in
Sweden back in the 1880s invented the first adjustable wrenches including the
monkey wrench, adjustable plumbers pipe wrench, and many others.  There is a
museum in Sweden honoring all his inventions.  His original company was
bought out by what is now Bahco, a very large toolmaker. I'm not a collector,
but thought this might be of interest to you.

                                                Regards,
                                                Jim Fellman

I  am the Library Director of the public library in York, NE  (where
this e-mail is coming from), and the son of Al & Lucille Schulz -- who
published _Antique and unusual wrenches_ in 1988.  Dad was one of the
"original 10" who founded the Missouri Valley Wrench Collector's Club.
The meaning of "monkey wrench" for the tool with a lower adjustable jaw
seems to have come about in the 1st third of the 19th century.  (My
Oxford English Dictionary is deficient in relevant citations, darn it!)
It appears in mid-19th century technical dictionaries, but does not
appear in my 1850 Webster's.   Stan Schulz

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