monkey wrench

Monkey wrench (left) compared to Stillson or pipe wrench (right)

The monkey wrench is an adjustable wrench (spanner in British English) that was popular in the nineteenth century but is rarely used today. Its use has generally been replaced by the adjustable-end wrench, which has a compact head and so is more easily used in confined places.

The term "monkey wrench" is also used colloquially (and inaccurately) to refer to the pipe wrench.

Etymology

Concerning the origin of its name, this story has been repeated in several publications in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries:

That handy tool, the "monkey-wrench", is not so named because it is a handy thing to monkey with, or for any kindred reason. "Monkey" is not its name at all, but "Moncky." Charles Moncky, the inventor of it, sold his patent for $2000, and invested the money in a house in Williamsburg, Kings County, where he now lives.^[1]

In his interesting article upon the genesis of machine design, Mr. W.H. Sargent spoke of the slide which moves up and down in the handle of a monkey wrench as resembling a toy monkey, and thereby drew an analogy. To this Mr. H.E. Madden writes: "The wrench is not named from this, neither is it so called because it is a handy thing to 'monkey' with. The right name is 'Moncky.' Charles Moncky, the inventor of it, sold his patent for $2,000, and invested the money in a house in Williamsburg, Kings County, N.Y., where he afterward lived.^[2]

However, this story has been refuted by historians, and there is evidence that screw-adjustable wrenches and even the term monkey wrench were used long before, at least from about 1840.^[3]

An old Monkey Wrench

See also

• Adjustable spanner
• Pipe wrench or Stillson wrench
• Plumber wrench

References

1. ^ S.C. & L.M. Gould (1886). The Bizarre Notes and Queries in History, Folk-lore, Mathematics, Mysticism, Art, Science, Etc.. http://books.google.com/books?id=7CMAAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA408&dq=moncky&lr=&as_brr=0&ei=6wihSLEbhqqyA7KPlJ4F#PRA2-PA408,M1. 
2. ^ William Rogers (1903, 1913). "Part 1: The Progressive Machinist". Rogers Machinists Guide. Theo. Audel & Company, New York. http://books.google.com/books?id=jKUJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA171&dq=moncky+monkey-wrench+inauthor:rogers&lr=&as_brr=1&ei=MhShSI27DoSCswPMx-2dBQ#PPP11,M1. 
3. ^ "The Boston Wrench Group (Imported English coach wrenches or 18th and 19th century American copies?)". Davistown Museum. http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioBostonWrench.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-11. 

External links

Look up Monkey wrench in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.