Welcome to The Wrenching News
A website for the
sharing of information on all types of collectible wrenches
Check back often for Bus's irregular updates
Don Ervin's Deere Cutout Wrenches including the super rare John Deere TR590 from the Ervin-Matz Auction
April 17-18 at York, Nebraska.
Late Breaking Wrenching News
Don Ervin-Robert Matz Antique Wrench Auction - April 17 & 18, 2009 at York, Nebraska(Posted April 2, 2009)
The catalog for the Ervin-Matz Auction is completed and on the web HERE
This year's sale consists of wrenches from the collections of Don Ervin of Surrey, Maine and Robert Matz of Cozad, Nebraska. Bob told me he had been interested in old tools since he was a young boy and bought his first wrench in 1938 (a Lawson pipe wrench that is included in this auction) It wasn't till he retired and sold his GMC truck dealership that he started collecting seriously. Besides wrenches he had collections of wood working tools, machinists tools, typewriters, Western books and memorabilia, rubber tire ashtrays, etc., etc.
Don started to thin down his vast and diverse collection with last years sale as he is now specializing in collecting only early patented wrenches. His agricultural cutout lettering type wrenches that are listed on this auction is the best collection ever offered at public auction. The John Deere T590 cutout is by far the most sought after wrench among farm wrench and John Deere collectors and has never been offered at a cataloged wrench auction before.
The combination of these two collections provides a wide selection of wrenches in all the wrench collecting categories and in all degrees of rarity and price range.
Carter Auction Report(Posted April 2, 2009)
Despite the bad climates both economic and weather type (it snowed seven inches Saturday morning) the Richard Carter Auction held in Sedalia, Missouri was a success. With over 2100 listed lots and many more unlisted, prices remained strong throughout the auction even the mid to low range items sold well. The two John Deere King Corn Silo wrenches set records for sale at auction. Colonel Glen LaRue and his crew kept the auction running smoothly through the three day auction. Several Missouri Valley Wrench Club members were in attendance and most seemed to be carrying bids for other members. Newsletter editor Stan Schulz had a table set up with club information and signed up several new members. Just in case the roads might still be slick on my way home Monday I made sure the old Buick had plenty of weight in the trunk (and back seat and passenger seat). I got one wrench closer to my goal of acquiring ever wrench patented or manufactured in Kansas with the purchase of the Automatic buggy wrench patented by Abner Wolfe of Kansas City, Kansas (Cope page 340).
New listings on Wrenches for Sale(Posted Jan. 9 2009)
I have started listing a consignment of over 300 wrenches. I won't be able to get them listed all at once as I am also working on the Spring Auction, so keep checking the
Wrenches for Sale page.
I will try and list a few everyday. There are numerous rare and unusual wrenches in this consignment
Fall Missouri Valley Wrench Club Report(Posted Oct. 20, 2008)
I attended the Missouri Valley Wrench Club Fall Meet and Auction at Baraboo, Wisconsin October 10th and 11th, 2008. The meet and auction hosted by Jim and Mala McGhee and friends was held on the Badger Steam and Gas Show grounds. It's quite a trip from the middle of Kansas to Baraboo, Wisconsin but well worth it as I met some wrench collectors I had known only thru telephone, email, or letter correspondence previously. The meet was well attended with several first timers and numerous outstanding displays. Sales tables were well stocked and the auction went smoothly with bidding that seemed oblivious to the prevailing economic outlook.
Richard Carter Wrench Auction February 2009(Posted Oct. 20, 2008)
On the way home I stopped at Sweet Springs, Missouri to help Glen La Rue and crew to sort, picture and catalog the collection of Richard Carter of Higginsville, Missouri. Richard was an early Wrench Club member and contributor to the Newsletter. I spent ten days there and we still didn't get finished with the 20,000 pounds of wrenches and other tools Richard had collected.
A catalog with pictures is now available from the auctioneer (see the UPCOMING WRENCHING EVENTS CALENDAR below for contact information). The catalog is on the web at the auctioneer's website
www.glenlarueauctioneer.com.
There is also a direct link to the
catalog here.
Auction date is Feb 27, 28, and Mar 1, 2009. at the Missouri State Fairgrounds, Sedalia, Missouri. Several rare wrenches were discovered in the boxes and chests the tools had been stored in for several years. This will be a huge auction with many tools sold in box lots. Besides wrenches the collection includes a large selection of Keen Kutter, Winchester and Bell System tools. Numerous brass tools (including wrenches), implement tool boxes, tool chests, woodworking tools. farm and household primitives and advertising collectibles.
Missouri Valley Wrench Club Spring Meet and Auction April 2009(Posted Oct. 20, 2008)
The wrenches for the auction to be held in conjunction with The Spring Missouri Valley Wrench Meet to be held in York, Nebraska April 17 & 18, 2009 have arrived in Kansas and work on the catalog has began. The auction will consist of wrenches from the collections of Don Ervin of Surrey, Maine and Robert Matz of Cozad, Nebraska. I made two trips to Cozad to pickup Robert's wrenches and Don dropped his off last month. Featured in this auction will be by far the best collection of cutout type wrenches ever offered at an auction sale. Cutout include the "Holy Gail" of cutouts the John Deere TR590 plus a John Bull, Gail G8, W Plow Co, Planet Jr. 312, C&J, double hammer Deere A196, Bradley's Wonder D99 (with two square openings), Casaday, Osborne, IHC 770E, and over thirty others! The catalog in progress is now on line HERE.
Missouri Valley Wrench Club Spring Meet and Auction 2010(Posted Oct. 20, 2008)
Sunday morning on the way from Baraboo to Sweet Springs I stopped to see the wrench collection of Virgil and Doris Saak of Baxter, Iowa. The Saaks have been members of the Missouri Valley Wrench Club since 1983 (club's second year) and served as Secretary - Treasurer for many of those years. They have consigned their collection to the Wrenching News for sale at the Spring 2010 Wrench Club Meet and Auction at York, Nebraska.
UPCOMING WRENCHING EVENTS CALENDAR
April 17-18, 2009 - Missouri Valley Wrench Club Spring Meeting and Auction - York, Nebraska.
For Wrench Club Meet information - Contact Stan Schulz - 402-362-7686 - Email:
mvwcnews@neb.rr.com
For auction information contact: Don 'Bus' Haury - 316-284-7345. Email: donhaury@southwind.net
More rare wrenches with cutout letters from the Don Ervin collection to be sold at the Wrenching News Ervin-Matz Antique Wrench Auction April 17-18 at York, Nebraska, including: W Plow Co, Gale G8, John Bull, Bradley's Wonder, and C & J.
MORE WRENCHING NEWS
Wrenching News Message Board Update - The Wrenching News has a new guest book/message board. Spammers ruined the old free one and all old posts were lost. I have to pay for this one but hopefully spammers can be kept off. So if you have a wrench question, some new information, a wrench you would like to show and tell (even brag a little),or just want to
sign in and leave a comment about this web site. Click Here
Archives - Some of the old wrenching news is stored in the achieves. Click Here
Rare and unusual adjustable wrenches to be sold at the Wrenching News Ervin-Matz Auction April 17-18, 2009 at York, NE.
To view all my Ebay auctions in a picture gallery Click Here
To Order Books on Wrench Collecting
Herb Page the author and publisher of "The Brothers Coes and Their Legacy of Wrenches" has given The Wrenching News the opportunity to add his excellent book to our inventory of books for wrench collectors. For a review and ordering information Vist the Wrenching News Book Store.
P. T. Rathbone's Book on Farm Wrenches Volume II (we also have a few copies of Volume I left)
Click here for more information
If you have any interest in Deere Company wrenches, oil cans, seats, or tool boxes you should have the current edition of Wayne Dill's "John Deere and Merged Companies Wrenches, Tools, Oil Cans, Cast Iron Seats, and Implement Tool Boxes" - The 2008 list contains 611 wrenches, (with a few deletions and several additions from the 2007 list), 22 oil cans, 41 cast iron seats and 71 tool boxes. This is the first year that the list has included Deere tool boxes. The list is updated every year and the price is $20.00 postpaid. Contact: D. Wayne Dill - 584 Courtland Dill Road - Harrington DE - 19952-5666 - 302-284-4004 - email:dilldw@hotmail.com
If International Harvester wrenches (or tool boxes, seats, oil cans, etc.) are your thing then you need to contact Gil Irps for information on his "IHC Tools and Equipment That They Were Issued With" and his "IHC Tool List" which is updated every year. Contact: Gil Irps - 3156 Old Waldron Road - Kankakee IL 60901-6013 - 815-937-9698.
Alligator wrenches from the Wrenching News Ervin-Matz Antique Wrench Auction. April 17-18 at York, Nebraska
Information for Wrench Collectors
Guide for Identifying Markings Found on Collectible Wrenches - One of the most frequent requests for information I receive is asking help in identifying the logos, initials, etc. seen on old wrenches. This is an attempt to identify these markings. A work in progress, keep checking for new additions. Any comments or new information will be appreciated. Click Here
A list of Steam Engine and Separator Wrenches of The Advance Thresher Machine Co. Battle Creek, Michigan compiled from old parts books. Click Here
An article on wrenches furnished with Hercules and Economy Gas and Kerosene Engines.Click Here
Links to Past Wrench Auctions Catalogs (we have Prices Realized and printed catalogs for most of these auctions, email or call for details)
Note: Stan has had problems with his server and has moved several of his pages to this site while working on
updating the Wrench Club site. The old home page with all the old links can be found
Here
A Missouri Valley Wrench Club membership form can be found
Here
Carl Bolt's Antique Tool Museum
Lots of pictures of Carl's Tool Museum including tractors, gas station equipment, old wrenches, more tool links and an informative page on wrench standard markings found on old wrenches.
Pa Paws Wrench
First-rate site for wrench and other antique tool collectors with a friendly and helpful discussion forum.
Hand Tool Preservation Association of Australia (HTPAA)
History and heritage of tools of Australia. Has several pages of wrenches pictured and identified and an extensive "Directory of Australian Tool Manufacturers and Makers"
A few of the outstanding adjustable buggy and wagon wrenches to be sold at The Wrenching News Ervin-Matz Antique Wrench Auction. April 17-18 at York, Nebraska
Great Planes Trading Company
New site from Mike Urness who manages several tool auctions a year. Mostly wood working tools but most auctions do have a few good wrenches.
Hans Brunner Tools
Australia's premier antique tool site. Tools for sale, auctions and more.
The Winchester Store
Tim Melcher's Winchester Site focuses primary on Winchester Store collectibles. Contains an excellent section on Winchester "Fakes" including wrenches.
The Old Tool Nut Journal
The Old Tool Nut Journal is a monthly publication concerning old, antique and collectible tools
plus tools for sale and wanted ads. Check out the web site for more information, more tool collecting links, and order a free issue.
Dean's Antique Safe and Padlock Page
Sure padlocks are tools and most tool collectors have a few (I have several hundred down from over a thousand). Excellent pictures of locks, safes, and advertising items from Dean's collection plus "caveat emptor" Let The Buyer Beware", an excellent section on reproductions.
My Old Tools
A mostly woodworking tool site from the Lone Star State - Tools, Books, and Manuals for sale with a discussion board and an excellent list of links.
More Links
ANTIQUE-CENTRAL
A Directory of collectors, shops and auctions with a section on reproductions with links to other sites with reproduction information.
