Huge Antique Cast Iron Stillson Walworth Railroad PIPE WRENCH 48\"L
![Huge Antique Cast Iron Stillson Walworth Railroad PIPE WRENCH 48\](img-large/g/eOEAAOSwLVZV4arb/s-l1600/Huge-Antique-Cast-Iron-Stillson-Walworth-Railroad-.jpg "Huge Antique Cast Iron Stillson Walworth Railroad PIPE WRENCH 48\")
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Huge Antique Cast Iron Stillson Walworth Railroad PIPE WRENCH 48\"L :
$79.99
ESTATE FRESH FIND! FANTASTIC, very RARE Antique cast iron PIPE WRENCH by Stillson.Great patina! it is 48 inches in length. HUGE! lots of signage! Check out all the photos! These pipe wrenches were once used on the railroads of yesteryear. In excellent working condition.Terrific as a display piece, or for actual use.
Marked \"Stillson\" as shown in photos, as well as \"Walworth Mfg. Co. Boston, Mass., U.S.A.\"Fantastic old tool.Here is a little background:STILLSON:
The pipe wrench (US), Stillson wrench or Stillsons (UK) is an adjustable wrench used for turning soft iron pipes and fittings with a rounded surface. The design of the adjustable jaw allows it to lock in the frame, such that any forward pressure on the handle tends to pull the jaws tighter together. Teeth angled in the direction of turn dig into the soft pipe. They are not intended for use on hardened steel hex nuts or other fittings because they would ruin the head; however, if a hex nut is soft enough that it becomes rounded beyond use with standard wrenches, a pipe wrench is sometimes used to break the bolt or nut free. Pipe wrenches are usually sold in the following sizes (by length of handle): 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 36, and 48inches, although smaller and larger sizes are available as well. They are usually made of cast steel. Teeth, and jaw kits (which also contain adjustment rings and springs) can be bought to repair broken wrenches, as this is cheaper than buying a new wrench.The first pipe, or stillson, wrench was created by Daniel C. Stillson while working as a mechanic at the Walworth Company, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1] On October 12, 1869, U.S. patent #95,744 was issued to Stillson.[2]
In Prince Edward Island, Canada there is some controversy over the true creator of the wrench. In the island folklore, the wrench was developed by Owen \"Iney\" McCluskey[3] (or McCloskey[4]), although no proof has ever been presented that would suggest that McCluskey and Stillson ever met.
On 17 August 1888 the Swedish inventor Johan Petter Johansson took his first patent on the adjustable pipe wrench.[5] The Swedish Patent Office issued the patent (SE 5636) again in 1894. The idea emerged after he established his company Enköpings Mekaniska Verkstad. Back then there was no standard on nut dimensions so each time a trades man was out on a job, he needed a trolley to take a whole set of fixed pipe wrenches with him. Johan Petter Johansson invented a tool that could grip different nuts dimensions.[6]
Walworth Mfg. Co.
Boston, Massachusetts
1892-1911
Tool Types Dies, misc. Tools, Wrenches
Directory of American Toolmakers Information
The original makers of the Stillson patent wrench, Walworth made a range of plumbing tools. While Stillson apparently patented this particular type of pipe wrench, it appears that the name was used generically by Bonney Vise & Tool Works, the Erie Tool Works, the Moore Drop Forging Co., the J.P. Danielson Co., and probably others. On dies, they used the brand name RUFF & TUFF and alo MILLER\'S PATENT, though the latter was possibly not until after 1900. It appears they made a 1907 Parmelee patent wrench and may have been succeeded by Parmelee Co.Identifying Marks WALFWORTH MFG. CO./BOSTON, USA (plus patent holder names/dates, brand names, etc.); WALCO
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Huge Antique Cast Iron Stillson Walworth Railroad PIPE WRENCH 48\"L :
$79.99