[rollei_list] Re: Stillson Wrenches and Zerk Fittings

Kinda like the "Schrader Valve" out of Brooklyn, NY and a "Griswold" from
Erie, PA for frying yer Taylor's Pork Roll.

Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Marc James Small
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:41 AM
To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [rollei_list] Stillson Wrenches and Zerk Fittings

At 08:07 PM 7/21/2008, Richard Knoppow wrote:


 >    I _have_ a Stillson wrench_. I think Alemite was first
 >with grease fittings and grease guns but am not sure. Its
 >curious how much stuff which is everyday familiar to me is
 >completely unheard of by the younger folks I talk to.
 >Sometimes I feel like Rip van Winkle. Of course, L.A. is
 >full of stuff that is not only gone but has left no trace
 >whatever. Even streets get moved.
 >    Anyone remember Autolite stores? Just call Western Union
 >and ask for operator 25, "Your always right with Autolite,
 >Goodnight."


I never realized that Stillson was a brand name 
peculiar to western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and 
Michigan until I went into a hardware store in 
Williamsburg, Virginia, to buy one.  The clerk 
cracked up laughing and said, "you must be from 
Pittsburgh!" I acknowledged this, and he told me 
that the generic term was "pipe wrench" -- and 
then sold me a Stillson brand wrench, which he 
stocked, he claimed, for Luddites such as myself.

Sure, I remember Autolite stores.  I also recall 
when Monkey Ward had outlets in every small town 
and when they would undercut Sears by 10% for 
better items.  Sears tools were great but J C 
Penney beat them on price and quality.  Them was the days!

The patent for the grease nipple was granted to 
Oscar Zerk in 1929.  Alemite was a company which 
manufactured these.  It was absorbed into the 
Stewart instrument company, who made the 
speedometers for the Ford Model T,  at the same 
time they bought out Warner to form 
Stewart-Warner, the guys who used to make the VW 
gasoline heaters, a necessity for those of us who 
drive air-cooled VW's in decent climes.

So, yes, it is properly a Zerk fitting.

Marc


msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Cha robh bàs fir gun ghràs fir!

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