Large 8 8 Adjustable Spanner

[Rhyolith]

Does anyone recognise this spanner? I am trying to get an idea of age and what short of spanner it is; a maker's name would obviously be nice too.

8 8 Adjustable Spanner by Rhyolith, on Flickr
8 8 Adjustable Spanner by Rhyolith, on Flickr

My entail research suggests its a "Clyburn" though its somewhat unclear whether thats just a pattern or a make as well.

It has the to fairly obvious 8's and a number that appears to be 37 next to the hanging hole at the end of the handle.

It quite large at 21 1/2' long and well built.

 

[NazNomad]

No faint stamp on the handle anywhere?


I'd expect it to have ...

''THE ORIGINAL''
''CLYBURN No. Whatever, presumably 8?''
''British Made''

 

[NazNomad]

Apparently, Thomas Chatwin & Co of Birmingham made Clyburn spanners.

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.co.uk/ ... table.html

 

[custard]

I can't help with your question Rhyolith, but that certainly is a beautiful tool. Using something like that would really inspire you to raise your game.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Bit of background; apparently Richard Clyburn invented the adjustable spanner in the 1842, though Edwin Beard Budding (of lawnmower fame) is also considered to have some claim -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_spanner

 

[AndyT]

I've said it before, but at risk of repeating myself, I think someone else on this forum really ought to be getting a copy of Ron Geesin's magnum opus "The Adjustable Spanner" for Christmas, and Rhyolith I'm looking at you. It's the distillation of decades of collecting and research.

But assuming your copy is still wrapped up under the tree, I'll give you a little bit more info.

Yes, I reckon it's a Clyburn. Thomas Clyburn was the inventor of this sort of adjustable spanner, in 1842, with the design being registered in 1843. The design was later made by a wide variety of companies up until as late as the 1980s, with lots of them being marked as "Original Clyburn". An appendix in Ron's book attempts to identify some of the lineage of these, based on the profile of the sliding mortice. (What shape is yours?)

Flicking through the pictures, one maker whose version looks very similar to yours was Hand Tools Ltd of Dronfield, Sheffield.
The example in the book has blue painted handles - does yours have any trace of blue at all?

They listed 9 sizes of the straight handled pattern including size 8 which was 21" long and spanned 2" - another clue to check.

For more info, look at Ron's own website here https://rongeesin.com/all-the-latest-ne ... le-spanner

Not only is Ron a dedicated tool collector, he's a famous, accomplished musician and a very helpful chap. You can order a copy of the book through his website and watch an illuminating video too.

 

[JohnPW]

More info:

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Richard_Clyburn

 

[Rhyolith]

I've said it before, but at risk of repeating myself, I think someone else on this forum really ought to be getting a copy of Ron Geesin's magnum opus "The Adjustable Spanner" for Christmas, and Rhyolith I'm looking at you. It's the distillation of decades of collecting and research.

I have been recommended this book a number of times and am very tempted. Trouble is I am dyslexic and find books often to be a wasted purchase regardless of the quality of the content.

I cannot find any evidence of blue paint on the handle or a makers name, I have looked quite closely.

The sliding mortice shape:
No.8 Spanner by Rhyolith, on Flickr
No.8 Spanner by Rhyolith, on Flickr

Where do you measure these for the length? I measured the longest point on this one and found it to very much be 21 1/2", not 21"... though in almost every other regard that clyburn straight handle on the catalog from 1964 looks like what I have.

 

[AndyT]

Ok, let's ignore the blue handle variant. In the book Ron shows six different shapes for the sliding mortise and attempts to link them to makers. For the inverted T shape he observes some with numbers on the jaws which he reckons were made by J Carter, Sons & Co.
They traded in Salford between 1869 and 1903, which fits with the apparent age of your spanner.

I don't think anyone else has done research in this level of detail and that's as near an identification as you are going to get for an otherwise unmarked tool.

 

[toolsntat]

Wasn't there a feature on Clyburns in a TATHS publication Andy?

 

[AndyT]

Wasn't there a feature on Clyburns in a TATHS publication Andy?

There's this newsletter, with Ron writing about some of his preliminary research

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oJ279H ... o5GCe/view

Page 5 of the pdf, 3 in the printed newsletter.

 

[Rhyolith]

Thanks Andy. I can believe its 19th century from the look and feel of it, particularly the nearly excessive width of the jaws. I must admit I am getting tempted by that book. How much is it, I cannot find a price on the site. I might go onto my very short list of books to get along side Gordon's brass foot pump one.

Found this: Don't think it helps much though, its a difference pattern from mine.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-J-CA ... 7675.l2557

That one in the PDF looks a lot like mine, even has the number near the hanging hole and a noticeable taper down the handle.

 

[AndyT]

The book is £25 inc postage, signed.

https://headscope.co.uk/printed

There is a risk that you will start appreciating these things even more!

 

[toolsntat]

Wasn't there a feature on Clyburns in a TATHS publication Andy?

There's this newsletter, with Ron writing about some of his preliminary research

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oJ279H ... o5GCe/view

Page 5 of the pdf, 3 in the printed newsletter.

Hmmm, not the one I was thinking of, but an interesting n/l anyway 8)
Bit later perhaps..... or It may have been elsewhere?
Ps Ron's study on blackbirds song is worth a watch.
Cheers
Andy

 

[NazNomad]

Hmmm, not the one I was thinking of, but an interesting n/l anyway 8)

Page 9 in this journal?


http://www.drive.google.com/file/d/1FdM ... Y-xqfx2rMO

 

[AndyT]

Maybe Journal 8, page 9?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FdM1re ... x2rMO/view

You beat me to it Naz!

 

[pip1954]

Hi
That book is on ebay for £17.24 :mrgreen: