Your father had one, maybe two.
Your grandfather always kept one handy.
The ubiquitous Crescent wrench has been around forever, except it hasn’t. It’s a more recent invention than the airplane!
The Wright brothers completed the first successful powered flight in 1903. The Crescent adjustable wrench was introduced four years later, in 1907.
Imagine what the Wright brothers could have accomplished with a Crescent wrench in their tool chest. They might have crossed the Atlantic!
Crescent® Is a Brand
Today, we use the word “crescent” to describe a type of wrench with an adjustable crescent-shaped jaw. A thumb screw or lever controls the aperture of the jaw, opening or closing it to grip the nut or bolt.
So the crescent shape of the jaw gives the wrench its name, right?
Wrong!
Crescent Tools is the name of the company founded by Swedish immigrant and inventor Karl Peterson. The brand name “Crescent” is now synonymous with the style of adjustable wrench Crescent Tools patented and brought to market in 1907.
Why a Crescent Wrench Belongs in Every Tool Chest
Today, there are more styles of Crescent wrench than you can shake a stick at:
- Standard Crescent Wrench
- Hammer Head Multi-Purpose Adjustable Wrench
- Locking Adjustable Wrench
- Adjustable Construction Wrench
- Crescent Wrench with Fancy-Schmantzy Sure-Grip Handle
- And so on
Historically, there was only one style with four sizes:
- The 8-to-10-inch double-ended adjustable wrench
- The 6-to-8-inch double-ended adjustable wrench
- The 8-inch adjustable wrench
- The 12-inch adjustable wrench
So then, what’s the secret of the Crescent wrench’s success?
A more useful tool was never invented, with the possible exceptions of the hammer and the handsaw.
The Crescent wrench replaces an entire set of combination wrenches. And while garage mechanics still use combination wrenches (one set for metric, the other for imperial), the average homeowner can manage just fine with a couple of adjustable wrenches from Crescent Tools.
The Crescent wrench handles everything from tightening bathroom fixtures to adjusting the carburetor on your lawn mower.
And if you ever need to remove a nut or bolt that’s too big for a regular wrench, the Crescent wrench opens wide.
Charles Lindbergh, who was so conscious of weight on his transatlantic flight that he stripped the Spirit of St. Louis down to the barest essentials, took a Crescent wrench with him in case something went wrong.
He was later quoted as carrying only “gasoline, sandwiches, a bottle of water, and a Crescent wrench and pliers.”
Evolution of the Crescent Wrench
Over the years, Crescent Tools made their adjustable wrenches lighter, stronger, and more versatile. By the 1930s, they had introduced a new wrench style with a longer handle for extra leverage. They also reduced the weight and bulk of their wrenches for work in tight spaces.
In 1955, Crescent released a special-edition adjustable wrench with an ergonomic grip handle for comfort. Crescent offered various tip configurations — including round-nose and offset — giving users more options for different repair jobs.
Crescent Tools developed an even more advanced version of their adjustable wrench in the mid-1970s; this model was made from high-grade chromium-molybdenum alloy steel and featured corrosion-resistant black oxide coating for better durability. It was designed for heavy-duty applications with large nuts or bolts and featured an improved locking mechanism.
Today’s Crescent wrenches have come a long way since Charles Lindbergh packed one in his lunch box for his historic transatlantic flight. With numerous upgrades over time, these tools are now lighter than ever, while still boasting tremendous strength and versatility — perfect for any handyperson or DIY enthusiast looking to tackle projects around the house!
About Crescent Tools
“Crescent Tools are a premier hand tool brand from Apex Tool Group, one of the largest hand tool manufacturers in the world. The brand is often associated with its most famous product, the Crescent brand adjustable wrench.
“Today, professional tradespeople can select from Crescent® wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, mechanics hand tools, and toolsets, Crescent Lufkin® measuring tools, Crescent Wiss® scissors and snips, Crescent Nicholson® files and saws, Crescent H.K. Porter® heavy-duty cutting tools, and Crescent JOBOX® storage products. A new generation of tradespeople is looking for tools that will help them produce professional results and a new, stronger Crescent is there to answer that call.”
(SOURCE: Crescent Tools)