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Most popular wrench of it's time

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BobC
BobC Member Posts: 5,478
in Strictly Steam
This bit of history ran in the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine today (Dec 8, 2019)-

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2019/12/06/magazine/forgotten-story-americas-most-famous-tool/
Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
3PSI gauge
Grallert

Comments

  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
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    The attached picture is of a wrench I bought at Harbor Freight. The label says "Pittsburgh Stillson Pipe Wrench." As you can see, it's clearly not a Stillson wrench. It's a pipe wrench patented in 1888 (19 years after Stillson received his patent) by a Swedish inventor named Johan Petter Johansson. I bought it mainly as a curiosity; I haven't found it very useful. There's nothing in particular that it does any better than—or even as well as—the Stillson.

    It wasn't made in Pittsburgh either. ;)
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,158
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    this is a REMS version, I found it very handy for 1/2, 3/4 & 1" gas pipe work, light, quick to adjust and it was almost impossible to over-tighten threaded pipe with it. An aluminum version would be ideal.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    edited December 2019
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    I wonder if I'd like mine better if the jaws were at the same angle as yours. The jaws on mine are perpendicular to the handle, but yours are ~135 degrees.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,158
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    Mine also have a rounded or V shape section on the front that grabs pipe nicely. Yours look like they would be better for nut and bolt work?
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
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    This is the one for nuts and bolts.


    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,529
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    Here's more about Mr. Stillson:
    https://heatinghelp.com/blog/daniel-chapman/
    Retired and loving it.
    Hap_HazzardGrallert
  • clammy
    clammy Member Posts: 3,113
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    I have some stillson wrench’s out in the shed and a bunch of those rems what I call German plumber channel locks I have them in offset and about 24 inch . There great for tight spaces . Peace and good luck clammy
    R.A. Calmbacher L.L.C. HVAC
    NJ Master HVAC Lic.
    Mahwah, NJ
    Specializing in steam and hydronic heating

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