[rollei_list] Re: Stillson Wrenches and Zerk Fittings

"Pump Pliers", perhaps, the generic english term? Much used in Yorkshire and parts south, the scots only gargle something which is difficult for the sassenachs to catch. John
----- Original Message ----- From: "FRANK DERNIE" <frank.dernie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 7:44 PM
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: Stillson Wrenches and Zerk Fittings


I was brought up in Lancashire in northern England.
The wrench you describe was referred to as a Stillson
on the farm FWIW. I have actually never heard such a
device called a pipe wrench, though there is a generic
English term which escapes me for the moment. Wrench
is actually an American term in England it would be
rarely if ever used. (Spanner is the UK word, often
used slang term "spaniard" in the motor racing
business, as in pass me that 12mm spaniard would you?)
FWIW
Frank


--- Marc James Small <marcsmall@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


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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