The wrench was a popular tool in the 19th century but has since been replaced by the crescent and socket wrenches. Its design was simple, with a metal handle and adjustable jaws. The monkey wrench was replaced by the crescent wrench, which has a smaller head. The term spanner’s origin is debated, with some believing it’s named after its creator or because the jaws resemble a toy monkey.
A wrench is a type of size-adjustable hand wrench that was used heavily during the 19th century. This style of wrench has since lost ground to the more compact crescent wrench and the easier-to-grip socket wrench. As the tool’s use fell out of favor, the term began to apply to its replacements and size adjustment wrenches. The original wrench was used for many tasks, from pipe fitting to industrial production.
The design of a wrench was very simple. A solid piece of metal makes up the handle, carriage and upper jaw of the wrench. A screw is located on the front of the device and is partially screwed into the lower jaw. The lower jaw slides up and down the sliding portion of the handle as the screw rotates. This design allows the user to adjust the size of the jaws, which open at right angles to the handle, by turning the screw with the thumb.
When the key is built, all the parts are permanently fitted together. Most of the handle is cast or welded together, except for the upper jaw. The screw sits atop a metal post in the handle; this allows it to move freely, but not to detach. The lower jaw is slid onto the slide, where the screw is fixed in an opening in the lower jaw. Then, the upper jaw is welded to the handle, preventing the key from coming off.
The monkey wrench quickly lost ground to other tools during the 20th century. This tool has been directly replaced by the crescent wrench. The crescent wrench has a much smaller head and thinner construction. This allows it to fit into smaller areas but still perform the same tasks.
The design of the wrench was taken from the socket wrench. The main difference between these two tools is in the jaws. A wrench has smooth jaws, like a crescent wrench, that were used to grip nuts. A pipe wrench has slotted jaws, which give it the grip to hold pipes. This small difference makes the basic design two separate tools.
There is some debate as to the origin of the term spanner. A common theory is that it is a derivative of the name of its original creator, Charles Moncky. Other people claim it’s a reference to the way the jaws come together; they look like a common toy monkey.
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