Alloy Artifacts |
Cornwell Quality Tools is notable for its relatively early use of alloy steel for its tools, and for its long production of hand-forged tools in an industry dominated by drop-forging.
Cornwell was also an early adopter of direct sales and "tool truck" service, a service that continues today.
Cornwell Quality Tools was founded in 1919 by Eugene Cornwell, a skilled blacksmith operating in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. A notice of the company's incorporation was published on page 1684 of the December 18, 1919 issue of the Iron Trade Review, which noted $50,000 in capital.
A 1919 report on new corporations from the Ohio Secretary of State listed the Cornwell Quality Tools Company in Cuyahoga Falls, with $50,000 in capital. The company officers were listed as Eugene Cornwell, B.L. Coleman, C.R. Barnes, H.L. Wandschneider, and L. Orlando Wilcox. Another publication from the Ohio Secretary of State gives the date of incorporation as November 14, 1919.
Based on an undated but early price list, Cornwell's earliest tools consisted of chisels, punches, and bearing scrapers.
The price list (and early advertisements) emphasized that the company's production method was hand-forging rather than drop-forging.
The price list notes the use of high-carbon electric furnace steel and doesn't mention alloy steel, but by the early 1920s Cornwell is believed to have begun production of wrenches made of chrome-molybdenum steel.
By 1923 Cornwell was advertising regularly in Popular Mechanics.
Fig. 0A shows an ad for Cornwell tools, as published on page 154 (advertising section) of the January, 1925 issue of Popular Mechanics.
The illustration shows examples of the company's tools, and the text describes the use of "Swedish Charcoal Process Molybdenum Steel", and notes that the tools are hand-forged rather than drop-forged. The company address is listed as Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Another ad in the February 1925 issue of Popular Mechanics (page 151 at the top right) offers a free booklet describing the company's tools, including wrenches, chisels, punches, and bearing scrapers.
Cornwell placed advertisements regularly in Popular Mechanics from 1923 through at least 1930.
In 1925 Cornwell began a joint venture with John A. Kennedy to form the Kennedy Tool Company, a maker of tire changing tools. Kennedy Tool became the leading maker for this class of tools, but eventually Kennedy left to form the Ken-Tool Company as a competitor. See our References section for more information on this little-known aspect of Cornwell.
By around 1926 Cornwell was printing and distributing catalogs of their tools. An undated catalog from around this time — with the company still in Cuyahoga Falls — offers open-end and tappet wrenches, chisels and punches, and a set of sockets and tools in 1/2 square drive. The socket tools are of particular interest, as the catalog states that both sockets and tools were forged from chrome-molybdenum steel. This would make Cornwell the earliest known company to offer hot forged sockets in the standard interchangeable drive format, as well as one of the first companies to use alloy steel for socket tools.
In 1927 the company moved to Mogadore, Ohio to expand its production facilities, and photographs in their early catalogs show the substantial manufacturing facility built in Mogadore. The date of the move to Mogadore is noted in a brochure printed for Cornwell's 65th anniversary year, based on information sent by one of our readers. The date can be further refined by noting that an ad in the May, 1927 issue of Popular Mechanics listed the company in Cuyahoga Falls, but an ad in the August, 1927 issue of the same publication noted the Mogadore location.
Catalog No. 16 from around 1934 lists a wide variety of tools, including sockets in (square) drive sizes 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, and 7/8, an extensive selection of wrenches, and many automotive specialty tools.
Catalog No. 17 from 1935 shows the first adoption of a model number system, with models assigned based on a leading mnemonic followed by a number.
For example, combination wrenches were the CWnn series, 1/2-drive sockets ("standard") were the SSnn series, and open-end wrenches were the EWnn series. This first model number system remained in use at least through 1952 and catalog No. 28.
By 1955 Cornwell was using a second generation model number system, with most models encoding the sizes in 32nds.
Cornwell remains in business today and information on the company's products can be found at the Cornwell Quality Tools [External Link] website.
Patent No. | Inventor | Filed | Issued | Notes and Examples |
---|---|---|---|---|
2,027,534 | C.B. Ingersoll | 08/05/1934 | 01/14/1936 | Stud Bolt Wrench |
2,304,766 | L.E. Pratt | 08/03/1940 | 12/08/1942 | Universal Joint Coupling |
2,959,078 | R.H. Skidmore | 06/17/1959 | 11/08/1960 | Torque wrench with preset
Cornwell "Skidmore" Preset Torque Wrench |
Estimating the manufacturing date for an older tool is an important first step in understanding where that particular example fits in the development of a company's products. Many manufacturers are known to have marked their tools with a date code, for quality control or other purposes, although the coding systems used were often not documented for the public. In the case of Cornwell, we're still unsure of whether they have a date code system, though it appears that some sort of date markings were used.
On certain early Cornwell tools the company name is followed by a letter, such as "Cornwell-A", "Cornwell-B", and so on. Currently codes "A" through "G" are known to occur, and it seems likely that this is an early date code system with one letter for each year. If this is the case, the likely starting point would be 1927 for code "A", progressing to 1933 for code "G".
The evidence for interpreting the letter codes as dates can be summarized as follows.
For the tools that aren't marked with a letter suffix, the Cornwell name is generally preceded or followed by a one or two-digit number, as for example "16 Cornwell" or "Cornwell 12". These numbers may encode the manufacturing date in some fashion, but the coding system is not yet known.
Until the date coding system can be understood, we'll try to develop some guidelines for estimating the manufacturing dates based on tool markings, styles, finishes, and other information. The list below includes some observations that may help estimate the manufacturing date for some tools.
Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in the Alloy Artifacts collection.
Cornwell remains in business today and the company's website offers a History [External Link] page with a timeline of events.
Information on the interesting history of the Kennedy Tool Company and Ken-Tool can be found at Ken-Tool Company History. [External Link] Since history for Cornwell is generally very difficult to find, we welcome this contribution from Ken-Tool, although we have no information to independently verify the events related there.
Product information was obtained from a number of Cornwell catalogs, as summarized in the table below.
Catalog | Year | Format | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Price List | 1920? | Brochure | No copyright, undated. Fold-out brochure, 6 pages.
Prices only, no illustrations. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists chisels, punches, and bearing scrapers. No wrenches. |
N/A | 1926? | Half | No copyright, undated. 24 pages.
Company still in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Earliest known illustrated catalog. Lists open-end wrenches in U.S.S./S.A.E. sizes. Lists single- and double-ended tappet wrenches in U.S.S./S.A.E. sizes. Lists socket tools in 1/2-drive with chrome-molybdenum forged sockets. Lists pliers, screwdrivers, chisels, punches, and bearing scrapers. |
No. 10 | 1929 | Half | No copyright, dated March 1, 1929. 32 pages.
Company in Mogadore, Ohio. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Wrench openings in S.A.E. sizes. Notes use of chrome-molybdenum steel for sockets and drive tools. Sockets and drive tools available in 5/8-drive. Lists 12-point box-end wrenches in five models with S.A.E./U.S.S. sizes. |
No. 12 | 1930? | Half | No copyright, undated. 40 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Wrench openings in S.A.E. sizes, some specified as across flats. Lists 12-point box-end wrenches in 12 models from 7/16x1/2 to 1-1/16x1-1/8. |
No. 14 | 1932? | Half | No copyright, undated. 56 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Wrench openings in across-flats sizes, illustrations still show S.A.E. Sockets and drive tools available in 3/8-drive. |
No. 16 | 1934 | Half | Sockets and drive tools available in 3/8-drive. |
No. 17 | 1935 | Half | No copyright. 48 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. First use of letter-prefix model numbers, e.g. AW6, SS12. |
No. 18 | 1936 | Half | No copyright, dated January 1936. 64 pages. |
No. 20 | 1938 | Half | |
No. 21 | 1940 | 3/4-Size | No copyright, dated June 1, 1940. 56 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. |
No. 21-A | 1941 | 3/4-Size | No copyright, dated July 1, 1941. 64 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists Champion DeArment pliers on pages 18-19. Lists Petersen Vise-Grip pliers on page 19. |
No. 23 | 1946 | Full | Copyright 1946. 112 pages.
"Cornwell Man" logo on back cover. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists Fairmount body hammers. |
No. 25 | 1948 | Full | "Cornwell Man" logo on back cover. |
No. 26 | 1950 | Full | |
No. 28 | 1952 | Full | Copyright 1952.
Original model number system still in use. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists SM-30 "New Style" stud remover. |
No. A-55 | 1955 | Full | No copyright.
New model number system in use, with sizes encoded in 32nds. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. No listing for SM-30 stud remover. |
No. A-57 | 1957 | Full | |
No. A-60 | 1960 | Full |
An early Cornwell price list offers only chisels, punches, and bearing scrapers, indicating that wrenches were not among the company's first tools. Wrench production probably commenced in the early 1920s.
Cornwell had been producing tools for about 15 years before its first general model number system came into use, and these early tools show a progression of marking styles. The earlier wrenches were generally marked with sizes based on the older U.S.S. or S.A.E. conventions, sometimes without explicitly noting the particular convention.
Fig. 1 shows an early Cornwell 1/2x9/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The back side (middle inset) is marked with sizes "5/16" and "3/8", which in the older S.A.E. size convention correspond to the 1/2 and 9/16 opening sizes.
Fig. 2 shows an early Cornwell 9/16x5/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank. The faces are stamped "3/8 S.A.E." and "7/16 S.A.E.", references to the older S.A.E. convention for the 9/16 and 5/8 opening sizes.
The overall length is 6.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 3 shows an early Cornwell 19/32x11/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank. The faces are stamped "5/16 U.S.S." and "3/8 U.S.S.", which in the older U.S.S. convention correspond to the 19/32 and 11/16 opening sizes.
The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 4 shows an early Cornwell 30 3/4x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Cornwell - C" and "30" on the shank, with the fractional sizes stamped on the faces.
The overall length is 9.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
This wrench is unusual in that it has a letter suffix as well as partial [EW]30 model number.
Fig. 5 shows an early Cornwell 15/16x1-1/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank. The insets show the back side face markings "3/4 S.A.E." and "5/8 S.A.E.", which in the older S.A.E. convention correspond to the 1-1/16 and 15/16 opening sizes.
The overall length is 11.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 6 shows another example of an early Cornwell 15/16x1-1/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Cornwell-A" on the shank, with "3/4 S.A.E." and "5/8 S.A.E." on the faces.
The overall length is 11.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The face markings refer to the older S.A.E. convention for the 1-1/16 and 15/16 opening sizes.
The next two figures show pairs of early tappet wrenches, both marked with sizes based on the older SAE convention.
Fig. 7 shows the earlier pair of Cornwell 1/2 tappet wrenches, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank with "5/16" on the face.
The overall lengths are 8.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 8 shows a somewhat later pair of Cornwell 1/2 tappet wrenches, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank with "5/16 SAE" on the face.
The overall lengths are 8.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 9 shows another somewhat later Cornwell 1/2 tappet wrench, stamped "Cornwell-B" on the shank, with the fractional size on the face.
The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The "B" suffix is believed to indicate production in 1928. Note that the fractional size marking, in place of the earlier S.A.E. sizes, reflects the somewhat later manufacturing date for this example.
Fig. 10 shows an early Cornwell 9/16 tappet wrench, stamped "Cornwell-A" on the shank with the fractional size on the face.
The overall length is 9.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The fractional size marking may indicate a somewhat later manufacturing date for this example.
Fig. 11 shows an early Cornwell 5/8 tappet wrench, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank, with "7/16 S.A.E." stamped on the face.
The overall length is 9.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with pitting due to rust.
The use of the S.A.E. size marking on this example indicates an earlier manufacturing date.
Fig. 12 shows another early Cornwell 5/8 tappet wrench, stamped "Cornwell-A" on the shank, with "7/16 S.A.E." stamped on the face.
The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The use of the S.A.E. size marking on this example indicates an earlier manufacturing date.
Fig. 13 shows an early Cornwell 11/16 tappet wrench, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank.
The overall length is 9.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with pitting due to rust.
We would have expected a letter code on this wrench, based on the use of a fractional size marking. The "Cornwell" marking is rather faint though, so it's possibly that the letter code has been lost.
Fig. 14 shows an early Cornwell 5/8x5/8 angle-head wrench, stamped "Cornwell" on the shank with "7/16 S.A.E." on the faces.
The overall length is 5.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
A later version of this model can be seen as the Cornwell AW10 Angle-Head Wrench.
Fig. 15 shows an early Cornwell 7/8x7/8 angle-head wrench, stamped "Cornwell-A" on the shank with "9/16 S.A.E." on the back side faces.
The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
A later version of this model can be seen as the Cornwell AW18 Angle-Head Wrench.
Fig. 16 shows an early Cornwell 1/2x9/16 flex-box wrench, stamped "Cornwell-C" on the shank, with the fractional sizes stamped on the flex sockets.
The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 17 shows an early Cornwell 5/8 brake wrench for Chrysler service, stamped "Cornwell-F" on the shank, with the fractional size stamped on the face.
The overall length is 5.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
A review of the Cornwell catalogs found this tool illustrated in catalog No. 12 from around 1930, listed as a No. 1260 "Special Chrysler Brake Wrench" with size 7/16 S.A.E. (5/8 opening). Catalog No. 16 of 1934 also listed the No. 1260 brake wrench with the size as just 5/8, but in later catalogs this tool was no longer available.
Cornwell began offering sockets and drive tools around 1926 (or possibly earlier), shortly before the company moved to Mogadore. These early sockets were made using chrome molybdenum steel, establishing Cornwell as one of the earliest tool makers to use alloy steel for sockets in a standard square drive.
Even more notably, Cornwell is believed to have been the first company to use the hot-forging method to produce female-drive sockets. A Cornwell catalog from around 1926 offers hot-forged sockets made of chrome molybdenum steel, a combination that gave them a significant lead over the rest of the tool industry.
We'll begin this section with some examples of very early hot-forged sockets, believed to be representative of Cornwell's earliest socket production.
Fig. 18 shows an early Cornwell 1/2-drive 11/16 hex socket, stamped with "Cornwell" and fractional size on the side. The finish is plain steel.
The exterior of the socket is very rough, and the parting line of the forging die can be seen to the right of the Cornwell marking, and extending down to the base. (A corresponding ridge appears on the opposite side of the socket.)
Fig. 19 shows an early Cornwell 1/2-drive 3/4 hex socket, stamped with "Cornwell" and "1/2 SAE" on the side. The finish is plain steel.
The 1/2 size marking in the older S.A.E. Size Convention corresponds to the measured 3/4 opening.
The exterior of the socket is very rough, and the parting line of the forging die can be seen near the left edge of the socket. (A corresponding ridge appears on the opposite side of the socket.)
Fig. 20 shows an early Cornwell 1/2-drive 25/32 hex socket, stamped with "Cornwell" and "?/16 USS" on the side. The finish is plain steel.
The size marking is meant to be "7/16" in the older U.S.S. size convention, which corresponds to the measured 25/32 opening.
The exterior of the socket is very rough, and the parting line of the forging die can be seen running between the "E" and "L" in Cornwell, and extending down to the base. (A corresponding ridge appears on the opposite side of the socket.)
Fig. 21 shows an early Cornwell 1/2-drive 13/16 hex socket, stamped with "Cornwell" and the fractional size. The finish is plain steel.
The exterior of the socket is very rough, and the parting line of the forging die can be seen on the base, approximately in line with the "W" in Cornwell. (A corresponding ridge appears on the opposite side of the socket.)
To go along with these very early sockets, we'll need a very early drive handle, as illustrated in this next figure.
Fig. 22 shows an early Cornwell 1/2-drive Ell handle, stamped (or rather mis-stamped) with "Cornwell" on the shank.
The overall length is 8.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The marking on this tool requires explanation, as it's not readable in the conventional sense. The marking die has struck only the lower part of each letter of "CORNWELL", and then struck again below and to the right of the first try.
We were able to decipher the marking after noting the similarity to another partially-struck marking on an early Cornwell tool.
This tool was acquired along with a set of very early sockets (see the Early Cornwell Socket above) and is believed to be among Cornwell's earliest socket drive tools.
Currently we don't have a catalog listing for this style of offset handle. Our earliest Cornwell catalog does offer a 1/2-drive offset handle, but with a straight shank and knurled end-piece, rather than the curled handle.
The next two figures show examples of Cornwell's No. 55 gearless ratchet, its earliest ratchet model.
Fig. 23 shows an early 1/2-drive Cornwell [No. 55] ratchet with its drive plug, marked with "Cornwell" and "Pat. Applied For" forged into the shank, with a "W" code forged into the back side (see middle inset).
The overall length is 9.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The patent for this ratchet, if issued, has not yet been found.
This example is not marked with the model number, but was identified by the catalog illustration. Later production had the "No. 55" model forged into the shank (see next figure).
The forged-in "W" code on the back side is believed to be a forge mark for the contract drop-forger used by Cornwell.
Fig. 24 shows a somewhat later (but still early) 1/2-drive Cornwell No. 55 gearless ratchet, marked with "No. 55" and "Cornwell" plus "Pat. Applied For" forged into the handle.
The overall length is 9.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The shank is also marked with a forged-in symbol resembling "HT" in a circle, believed to be a forge mark for the contract drop-forger.
Cornwell's No. 55 ratchet was offered as early as 1925 or 1926 and remained in production until about 1934. After 1934 the No. 55 model was superseded by the Cornwell SR-2 Ratchet, with apparently identical specifications.
Fig. 25 shows an early 1/2-drive Cornwell flex-head handle, stamped "Cornwell - B" on the shank.
The overall length is 13.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
This flex-head breaker bar has some unusual construction features, such as the handle shaped as a 15/16 hex.
The hexagonal handle is equipped with both a cross-bar hole and a 1/2-drive end broaching, allowing use as a Tee-handle or an extension (see right inset).
Note that this handle is designed with the fork on the flex head rather than on the shank, as it more commonly found today. In the early 1930s a number of companies made flex handles with this alternate design, probably to avoid infringement of the Eagle patent #1,380,643 used by Plomb Tool at that time. In 1935 the patent was ruled invalid in a court case, and subsequently most companies switched to making flex handles with the fork on the shank. (See the discussion of the Eagle lawsuit for more information.)
Fig. 26 shows an early 1/2-drive Cornwell 10 inch extension, stamped "Cornwell - B" on the shank.
The overall length is 10.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Cornwell began offering 3/8-drive "Junior" socket tools sometime in the early 1930s. Our first catalog reference is from around 1934.
Fig. 27 shows an early Cornwell No. 85 3/8-drive gearless ratchet, marked with "Cornwell" and "Pat. Pending" forged into the shank.
The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 28 shows an early 3/8-drive Cornwell "F" flex handle, stamped with "Cornwell-F" on the back side.
The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The knurled handle is broached for 3/8-drive, allowing the handle to be used as an extension.
Note that this handle is designed with the fork on the flex head rather than on the shank, as it more commonly found today. In the early 1930s a number of companies made flex handles with this alternate design, probably to avoid infringement of the Eagle patent #1,380,643 used by Plomb Tool at that time. In 1935 the patent was ruled invalid in a court case, and subsequently most companies switched to making flex handles with the fork on the shank. (See the discussion of the Eagle lawsuit for more information.)
The next figures show two generations of the Cornwell EW12 open-end wrench.
Fig. 29 shows an early Cornwell 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench, stamped "22 Cornwell" and "12" on the shank. The "12" marking is an early form of the EW12 model number, indicating production before the model number prefixes went into use.
The overall length is 4.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 30 shows a later Cornwell EW12 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench, marked "35 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 31 shows a Cornwell EW14 7/16x1/2 open-end wrench, stamped "19 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to wear.
Fig. 32 shows a Cornwell EW22 9/16x5/8 open-end wrench, marked "20 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 33 shows a Cornwell EW28 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, stamped "15 Cornwell" on the shank.
The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
Fig. 34 shows a later Cornwell EW1820 9/16x5/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Cornwell 5" and "USA" on the front, with the model number and fractional sizes on the back side.
The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Cornwell also offered miniature open-end wrenches for ignition service, in a design with different opening sizes and different offset angles.
Fig. 35 shows a Cornwell IW3 13/64x15/64 ignition wrench, stamped "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 3.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 36 shows a Cornwell IW5 7/32x1/4 ignition wrench, stamped "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 3.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 37 shows a Cornwell TW44 7/16x17/32 tappet wrench, stamped "18 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 9.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Fig. 38 shows a Cornwell TW54 3/4x13/16 tappet wrench, marked "17 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Fig. 39 shows a Cornwell [TW]0 3/8 long single-ended tappet wrench, stamped with "2 Cornwell" and "0" on the shank. The "0" marking is an early form for the TW0 model number, suggesting production before the model number prefixes went into use.
The overall length is 12.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
Our earliest listing for the model TW0 tappet wrench is in the 1938 Cornwell catalog. The absence of the model prefix and "USA" markings suggests production in the mid to late 1930s.
Fig. 40 shows a Cornwell TW5 1/2 long tappet wrench, stamped "24 Cornwell" on the shank.
The overall length is 12.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
Cornwell was one of the first companies to develop open-end obstruction wrenches in a design close to the preferred modern form. Cornwell's design featured two openings of the same size but different offset angles, with one end offset at 15 degrees and the other offset at 60 degrees to the opposite side. Another notable feature of the wrenches was the very narrow shank, an advantage when working in restricted spaces.
These obstruction wrenches were listed in catalog No. 16 (about 1934) as "brake wrenches", but of course they served for many other tasks as well. The design came to be very popular with aircraft mechanics, and later Cornwell catalogs mention these as aircraft wrenches.
Obstruction wrenches of different styles were produced by a number of other companies, and the interested reader may want to review these alternative designs. Examples include the Blackhawk-Armstrong 2029 Wrench, Bonney 2727 Wrench, Herbrand 1827 Wrench, and Williams 2021 Wrench.
Fig. 41 shows an early Cornwell [AW]2 3/8x3/8 angle-head wrench, stamped "12 Cornwell" and "2" on the shank. The "2" marking is an early form of the "AW2" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The next two figures show examples of the model AW4 wrench.
Fig. 42 shows an early example of the Cornwell [AW]4 7/16x7/16 angle-head wrench, stamped "14 Cornwell" and "4" on the shank. The "4" marking is an early form of the "AW4" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 4.6 inches, and the finish is polished steel.
Fig. 43 shows a later Cornwell AW4 wrench, marked "11 Cornwell" and "USA" on the back side of the shank.
The overall length is 4.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
Fig. 44 shows a Cornwell AW6 1/2x1/2 angle-head wrench, marked "25 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 45 shows an early Cornwell [AW]8 9/16x9/16 angle-head wrench, stamped "12 Cornwell" and "8" on the shank. The "8" marking is an early form of the "AW8" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 5.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 46 shows an early Cornwell [AW]10 5/8x5/8 angle-head wrench, stamped "12 Cornwell" and "10" on the shank. The "10" marking is an early form of the "AW10" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 6.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 47 shows a Cornwell AW10 5/8x5/8 angle-head wrench, marked "18 Cornwell" and "USA" on the back side. (The inset has been rotated for readability.)
The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 48 shows an early Cornwell [AW]12 11/16x11/16 angle-head wrench, stamped "19 Cornwell" and "12" on the shank. The "12" marking is an early form of the "AW12" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 49 shows an early Cornwell [AW]12 11/16x11/16 angle-head wrench, stamped "22 Cornwell" and "12" on the shank. The "12" marking is an early form of the "AW12" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 7.2 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating, with extensive losses due to wear.
Fig. 50 shows an early Cornwell [AW]14 11/16x11/16 angle-head wrench, stamped "33 Cornwell" and "14" on the shank. The "14" marking is an early form of the "AW14" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 7.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 51 shows a Cornwell AW18 7/8x7/8 angle-head wrench, marked "16 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.
Fig. 52 shows a Cornwell AW20 15/16x15/16 angle-head wrench, marked "17 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The next figures show two generations of the Cornwell AW22 wrench.
Fig. 53 shows an earlier Cornwell [AW]22 1x1 inch angle-head wrench, stamped "20 Cornwell" and "22" on the shank. The "22" marking is an early form of the "AW22" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
Fig. 54 shows a later Cornwell AW22 1x1 inch angle-head wrench, marked "18 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Fig. 55 shows an earlier Cornwell [AW]24 1-1/16x1-1/16 angle-head wrench, stamped "12 Cornwell" and "24" on the shank. The "24" marking is an early form of the "AW24" model number, suggesting that this wrench was produced shortly before the model number prefixes were standardized.
The overall length is 9.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel, possibly with traces of cadmium plating.
Fig. 56 shows a Cornwell AW24 1-1/16x1-1/16 angle-head wrench, marked "16 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 10.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 57 shows a later example of the angle-head series, a Cornwell AW1818 9/16x9/16 angle-head wrench, stamped "Cornwell 3" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The next two figures show examples of the Cornwell BW3 wrench.
Fig. 58 shows a earlier Cornwell [BW]3 3/8x7/16 short offset box wrench, stamped "23 Cornwell" on the shank.
The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 59 shows a later Cornwell BW3 3/8x7/16 short offset box wrench, stamped "35 Cornwell" on the shank, with "USA" on the back side.
The overall length is 4.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 60 shows a Cornwell [BW]7 1/2x9/16 short offset box wrench, stamped "13 Cornwell" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 61 shows a Cornwell BW22 1/2x9/16 offset box wrench, marked "23 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 61 shows a Cornwell BW34 3/4x25/32 offset box wrench, stamped "16 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 13.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 63 shows a Cornwell BW67 5/8x3/4 asymmetrical halfmoon box wrench, stamped "18 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
The BW67 wrench was first offered in Cornwell catalog No. 20 of 1938. The catalog description recommends it for Chrysler starter motor service, and for Chevrolet starters and front motor support bolts.
Cornwell also offered halfmoon wrenches in a symmetrical design, with models BW64 through BW66 available as early as 1935.
Fig. 64 shows a Cornwell BWS1416S 7/16x1/2 offset box wrench with 6-point openings, stamped "1 Cornwell 0" and "USA" on the shank, with the model number on the back side. (The lower inset has been rotated for readability.)
The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with losses due to wear.
Fig. 65 shows a Cornwell FS3 3/8x7/16 flex-box wrench, stamped "17 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank, with the fractional sizes stamped on the flex sockets.
The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
The combination wrench style is a popular design with open and box ends of equal size. Credit for the original design is usually given to Plomb Tool with their April 1933 newsletter announcement, although Bonney had also introduced wrenches of the same design by May of 1933. The combination wrench quickly gained acceptance, and most of the major tool makers were offering this style within a few years.
Cornwell began producing combination wrenches in 1934 or 1935, and the first published listing is in catalog No. 17 of 1935. At that time four models were available in sizes from 7/16 (model CW4) to 5/8 (model CW10).
Fig. 66 shows a Cornwell CW3 3/8 combination wrench, marked "27 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 67 shows a Cornwell CW5 7/16 combination wrench, marked "27 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 5.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 68 shows a Cornwell CW7 1/2 combination wrench, marked "18 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 69 shows a Cornwell CW9 9/16 combination wrench, marked "35 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
The next two figures show similar examples of CW12 11/16 combination wrenches, with minor differences in marking and dimensions.
Fig. 70 shows an early Cornwell [CW]12 11/16 combination wrench, stamped "10 Cornwell" and "12" on the shank, with the "12" indicating the later model number CW12.
The overall length is 9.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 71 shows a Cornwell CW12 11/16 combination wrench, marked "10 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 9.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The next several figures show examples of CW14 3/4 combination wrenches, with minor differences in marking and dimensions.
Fig. 72 shows an early Cornwell [CW]14 3/4 combination wrench, stamped "10 Cornwell" and "14" on the shank, with the "14" indicating the later CW14 model number.
The overall length is 10.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 73 shows another Cornwell CW14 3/4 combination wrench, stamped "15 Cornwell" on the shank, with the fractional size stamped on the face.
The overall length is 11.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 74 shows a third example of the Cornwell CW14 3/4 combination wrench, stamped "10 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 75 shows a Cornwell CW16 13/16 combination wrench, stamped "10 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 11.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 76 shows a Cornwell CW18 7/8 combination wrench, stamped "23 Cornwell" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 12.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
In the mid 1950s Cornwell switched to a new model numbering system, with the opening sizes for wrenches encoded in 32nds.
Fig. 77 shows an example of the later model number for a Cornwell CW1616 1/2 combination wrench, stamped "2 Cornwell 0" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 6.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 78 shows a later Cornwell CW2020 5/8 combination wrench, stamped "3 Cornwell 0" and "USA" on the shank.
The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Alloy Artifacts Home | Text and Photographs Copyright © 2005-2024 Alloy Artifacts | Site Index |