You never know what you are going to find in an old workshop on what was once a rather fine Dover estate.  On the invitation of the last member of the family to have lived there, my son Philip and I were looking through the clutter in the garage when he approached with an object looking more like a Medieval war club than a tool!  The heavy 21 inch long monster was the largest adjustable wrench I had ever seen. Upon closer inspection we noted that it was stamped “BLAKE” in three places, clearly identifying it with that family that had once owned this property on Strawberry Hill Street. Even more interesting was that it had been manufactured by “COES WRENCH CO. WORCESTER MASS” and patented “DEC. 16-1861” proving that those were the days when tools like this were not only made in the USA, but in many a local town.

Its jaws were intended to loosen or tighten square nuts like that securing the axle of this 19^th century grindstone, or for securing the bolts of a steam engine boiler plate, with the addition of sheer brute force…

I felt that an historical object like this must be shown off, so Lori Carbone and I decided to plan a display of traditional, simple but essential “Mechanics Tools” at the Sawin Museum with the Blake wrench taking pride of place.  Once the museum reopens, do come and see the end result, and much else besides.                 

By Stuart Swiny