Our collections manager sent me an email yesterday, asking if I could use some tools that were being offered to the Museum. The photo was the usual collection of hammers, chisels and wrenches, with the exception of one item. There was one item that I did not recognize. I have some thoughts about it, but I don't want to sway anyone's answer.

So, what is this tool?

John
Tool Crib, NC

I've not seen this tool before, but will stick my neck out and cast the first "vote":

WRENCH - Injector Nozzle

Chicago made some injectors, and the various size nozzles would fit the various stepped parts of the wrench. The 4 sided 'flat' in the middle is for the wrench to be applied.

If not an injector nozzle wrench, is seems that it would be used for a similar application.

Not a injector nozzle wrench but the wrench for installing or removing the pipe couplings that connect to the body of the injector.

That may not be a steam loco or railroad tool at all, but a special internal wrench for tightening/removing tail coupling pieces on radiator valves (like those found in a house). My colleague ZOG has an intimate acquaintance with these things, and would recognize it in a "New York minute", so to speak.

I had this very discussion with him three weeks ago, as we pondered a half-dozen of these things in a pile of pipe wrenches at Thomaston Shop.

Howard P.

Paul D wins the prize.

It is a tool to install or remove injector tailpieces.


Robert Yuill

It is generally called a "spud wrench". I have several hanging way up on the wall above my work bench. They have have at least 2 applications I know of and have used said tool for in plumbing. As mentioned above they are used to install or remove the half union fitting (radiator nipple) that goes into a steam or hot water heating radiator. I have also heard the tool called a "radiator nipple wrench". Inside the radiator nipple are nubs opposite one another for the tool to bear against in tightening or removing. I have had these nubs inside the brass nipple shear off when trying to remove a nipple from old steam radiators. The other application is where the term "spud" wrench comes from. In the back of an old fashioned toilet bowel used with a wall hung tank, there is a brass fitting that goes into the porcelain. This brass part is called a "closet spud", closet coming from the old fashioned term for a toilet a "water closet". In order to hold the closet spud while the nut on the outside is tightened the spud wrench is used. I am pretty sure some older urinals have a similar fitting arrangement but in a smaller size where the water enters. The various steps on the tool are of course to accommodate the various sizes of radiator nipples as well as the spuds on toilets. Chicago on the tool is probably for the "Chicago Speicalty Co. a maker of plumbing repair parts and plb. related tools.

You can get a brand new one here:
http://www.statesupply.com/displayItem.do?sku=GU2180
Scott

I was going to vote for "muffler bearing wrench"....