What is this shape spanner called

RomfordNavy

Anyone know what this type of spanner with the hooked end is called?  Incredible, grips even the worst seized nuts and would like to buy some in other sizes.

FrugaiMacDugal

It's a open ended spanner.

Plenty here.

Section62

RomfordNavy said:

Anyone know what this type of spanner with the hooked end is called?  Incredible, grips even the worst seized nuts and would like to buy some in other sizes.

New one to me - I've looked through some old tool catalogues and can't see anything like it.  Is there a maker's name stamped on the other side?

Rather than a 'hook' it looks to me like it is just a conventional open-ended spanner with one jaw reduced in length - the jaws still seem to be parallel.

I'd guess the intent is to make it easier to get the spanner onto the nut in tight spaces - the shorter jaw would allow the spanner to go on at a wider range of angles than a standard open-ended spanner would allow.

The imperial markings suggest either quite old, or possibly a plumbing tool. (Plumbing would also fit with being better in tight spaces)

Have you measured the "1/2" end to see what the actual jaw measurement is?

I also wouldn't rule out the possibility of it being a DIY adaptation of a standard open-ended spanner.  I'm inspired to copy it and see whether it really is easier to use in tight spaces.

grumpy_codger

RomfordNavy said:

Anyone know what this type of spanner with the hooked end is called?  Incredible, grips even the worst seized nuts and would like to buy some in other sizes.

What's special about it and what makes it better than a normal spanner? I don't see any reason for a better grip. In fact, I see the opposite - the shorter a jaw, the worse the grip.
And there are many places in the internet listing all sorts of spanners and I don't see this special type anywhere - possibly because it has very limited special applications.
E.g. here https://www.mechdaily.com/types-of-wrenches/ - among 33(!) variaties.

Spikeygran

OH has hundreds of old spanner types for all manner of jobs.  We made the spares into art by arranging them on board. So sadly I've just been wandering around examining them and none have the forshortened end.  I will ask OH is he has any like that and if so was there a specific purpose.  Though I'm leaning towards a bespoke alteration for a particular job?

They just made tools better back then, the modern spanners are lighter and thinner, some are so thin they wobble on the nut. With 70 year old hands I almost always default to the older ones as I find they hurt my hands less.  I would guess that the reason it grips better is that its thicker and so doesn't allow any movement on the nut

Section62

grumpy_codger said:

RomfordNavy said:

Anyone know what this type of spanner with the hooked end is called?  Incredible, grips even the worst seized nuts and would like to buy some in other sizes.

What's special about it and what makes it better than a normal spanner? I don't see any reason for a better grip. In fact, I see the opposite - the shorter a jaw, the worse the grip.
And there are many places in the internet listing all sorts of spanners and I don't see this special type anywhere - possibly because it has very limited special applications.
E.g. here https://www.mechdaily.com/types-of-wrenches/ - among 33(!) variaties.

I agree, although most open-ended spanners have a curved section between the two flats - this spanner has two straight sections instead, giving a total of three and a quarter (roughly) sides of the hexagon.  In that way it may be acting more like an open ring spanner than a conventional open-ended spanner, so might generate a bit more grip in that sense.

I think it may only work (well) in one direction though - it may be that it has to be flipped to switch between tightening and slackening.  We need some more info from the OP.

daveyjp

Unless you have a full set it may just be a spanner for a particular piece of equipment or a vehicle and is supplied with it when new.   Equipment is long gone, the spanner survives.  I have a few pieces from old car tool kits, back in the day they were supplied so cars could be repaired on the road.
.
Mechanics and fitters also often have lots of old spanners they adapt for particular jobs.

knightstyle

I remember using a set of spanners like this, they were made to make it easier to slip back when tightening nots in cramped spaces. I used them to fix bus bars on Reyrolle breakers which were a pig to get to.

RomfordNavy

Section62 said:

New one to me - I've looked through some old tool catalogues and can't see anything like it.  Is there a maker's name stamped on the other side?

Rather than a 'hook' it looks to me like it is just a conventional open-ended spanner with one jaw reduced in length - the jaws still seem to be parallel.

...

As opposed to just being one side cut down that short side actually angles inwards slightly, which is not obvious from the pic, which makes it dig in and grip way more than any open-ended or ring spanner would do.  I have used this on any number of stuck nuts and given it a quality bash with a club hammer; it has never slipped.

Obviously it can only work in one direction.