Technical Offbeat question ?

I recently went through some of my late father's tools and found a tool that stumps me as to it's purpose . My father was life-long electrician but was also skilled in woodwork and metal work . This tool is obviously old and may have been his fathers ? Not sure about it ? I am attaching several pics for you to see and see if anyone can identify it's use or origin ? There are three threaded holes in the center of the wrench marked as 5/16 , 3/8 , and 1/2 . There marking across from these but I can't make out what is written there . On one end of the wrench is written " Crocodile " with " Hawkeye wrench " down below it . On the other end is written " Made in the USA " with " Marshalltown " below it . The wrench is about 8 1/2 " long and it has an unusual shape . Also included with the pics is a pic of his old ruler which is a type seldom seen today . any help will be appreciated !

 

It looks like the type of wrench you would use to tighten wire nuts and also bend it as necessary.


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google "crocodile wrench" you'll learn all about them.

Just an early, lousy, design for a wrench.

 

Also called an alligator wrench. Designed for square nuts & bolts. The 3 thread chasers in the center are handy tho......

 

Thanks to all for the quick response . I did as suggested and the mystery was quickly solved .

 

seldom seen? i have at least 5-6 of them and use them all the time. you can still buy them new. try one....i'm sure you will like it

 

That folding rules should have a brass slide for dead on accurate inside measuring. Bob

 

yeah, it should. This one is only a foot long, but it has the slide. Very well made, too.