| US Patent: 212,298 
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| Wrench | 
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| Patentee: |  |
 | Charles E. Billings (exact or similar names) - Hartford, CT |  
 
 
 
 
 
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| Patent Dates: |  
| Applied: | Nov. 25, 1878 |  
| Granted: | Feb. 18, 1879 |  
 
USPTO (New site tip)| Patent Pictures:
	      
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	        ] |  |  |  | Charles E. Billings Pat. Feb. 18, 1879 |  Google Patents
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                        Stan Schulz
 
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| Description: |  | The key features of the patent are the milled handle slot which forms the "way" for the adjustable jaw, and the measurement scale on the shank. This patent was the basis for a series of adjustable wrenches produced over several decades. 
Pocket wrenches of this general appearance existed before this patent; F.H. AIKEN'S (Franklin, NH) EXCELSIOR appears in 1878 British importer's advertisements.  Other manufacturers in the U.S., Britain and Germany produced similar pocket wrenches for several decades. |  |