Getting a Grip on Antique Wrenches

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Wrenches and other tools are a gaining popularity in the collectibles community. Coutesy of Fotolia/ Z

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As interest grows in old tractors and implements, collectors' passions are spilling over to related collectibles - like wrenches. In Cunningham, Ky., Linmo and Verene Biggs have filled a 12-by-20 foot building with wrenches.

"Linmo built the building especially to house and display his collections," says Mrs. Biggs. "The neighbors call it Linmo's museum." Biggs, 72, started farming in the horse-drawn era. But his collection of tools and wrenches is only about 15 years old. Biggs says wrench collectors in his area collect some railroad wrenches, but most tool collections are farm related. Many implements - mowers, cultivators and plows, for instance-came with their own wrenches. Often the wrenches were housed in mounted tool boxes, also big on the collectible circuit now. Tractor and threshers usually came with several wrenches, some of which were adjustable.

International Harvester, for instance, gave away wrenches with every implement, tractor and thresher, more than 800 in all. In addition to wrenches, Bigg's collection includes auto wrenches, more than 50 embossed axes, and more than 150 Winchester wrenches dating to the 1920s. His largest collection is of wrenches from the Keen Kutter brand (also known for pocket knives), and he also has a full set of Jennings bits made in 1898, in the original wooden case.

"To my knowledge, I have more different Chattanooga wrenches than anyone else in the U.S.," he says.

It's a collector's collection, but he's not afraid to play favorites.

"I still like wrenches best of all," he says, "because they do so many things, and represent so much history."

Antique tools are a good fit for the city-dwelling collector, says Glenn Lofdahl, Emporia, Kan. Since he lives in town, he doesn't have room for tractors and machinery. So he collects wrenches and related memorabilia instead.

"That includes mower, toolbox and planter lids, and other items," Lofdahl says. "I started out with International Harvester only, but have expanded on the wrenches to most lines of farm machinery."

There's plenty of challenge, Lofdahl says, in finding and identifying wrenches. "Looking at old equipment, manuals, parts lists and the like all help give a picture or number to look for," he says, "especially for the wrenches not well marked."

Collections are increasingly specialized, he says, as collectors zero in on categories such as auto, railroad, adjustable, woodworking and implement wrenches.

Sought-after pieces include wood-handled adjustable 'monkey wrenches,' 'alligator wrenches' (with V-shaped gripper jaws for nuts and pipes), those stamped by railroad owners, and special pieces issued by tractor and plow companies.

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