I'll have to look for one of these. I clicked on the hi-res image link
and see that, in addition to the slide adjustment mechanism (I'd like to
know exactly how it works) there is also an engraved opening size scale
on the jaws. Nice touch.
Chuck Norcutt
On 11/6/2010 3:47 PM, Moose wrote:
> On 11/6/2010 10:32 AM, Paul Laughlin wrote:
>
>> I am reasonably sure that the Crescent company, held the original
>> patent and for a number of years was the only manufacturer of the
>> "Crescent" wrenches in the USA. Hence the name Crescent stuck.
>> The originals also had good jaws.
>
> On 11/6/2010 4:30 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>> Crescent still exists but is now owned by a much larger company
>> called Cooper Industries (really located in Houston, Texas but
>> incorporated in
>> Ireland)<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_%28brand%29>
>
> Cooper went through the US hand tool industry, buying up old line
> manufacturers of quality tools, then lowering the costs and
> cheapening the tools. Crescent was one of them. Sloppy tolerances and
> soft jaw faces do indeed make them likely to damage fasteners - and
> fingers, when they slip.
>
> I have a now quite old crescent adjustable that is well made of
> quality materials and has held up, but for several decades their
> stuff that I've seen has been cheap in price and quality. Not the
> worst, just mid quality, mass market stuff.
>
> On a whim, I suppose mostly 'cause I can't resist a new gadget
> design, I bought a pair of Crescent wrenches of a new design, with a
> thumb operated slider on the handle to adjust the jaws. The handle is
> considerably thicker, to accommodate the adjustment mechanism, and
> the jaws are much thicker than their usual, as well, probably to
> match the
> handle.<http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/CF_Files/model_detail.cfm?upc=037103211453>
>
> There is quite a bit of opening width play in the movable jaw,
> although the way it operates, that's not a problem. So far, in casual
> use, they have been pretty good. I mostly use sockets, or fixed size
> combo wrenches/spanners, where sockets won't fit, but there are jobs
> where an adjustable wrench is a quick and suitable tool. The 6" wide
> jaw Diamond was excellent in a bicycle tool kit and the 15" Diamond
> is indispensable for plumbing.
>
> Monkey Wrench Moose
--
_________________________________________________________________
Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
|