HiYa Gang-
Continuing with my research has comfirmed that the plow wrench, 4161c- VBW/Staffordhire Knot logo wrench I have shown in a previous post was indeed the Vaughan Brothers Drop Forging, Willenhall, Staffordshire, England. A National Ford Tool Collectors (NAFTCO) member, Brent Mueller, confirmed with me that he has an English Ford Model T adjustable wrench/tool with identical markings and the FORD script and T-1387 part number. Brent is the gentleman that came up with the Ford Tool Manufacturers chart also shown in the same previous post. Brent sent me a picture of an unusual Ford Plow Wrench from his collection and is shown below. Note it has the oval script FoMoCo logo and USA on it in the usual spot, however there is no FORD 9N17014 part number nor any signs there was one there. The MOORE mold/die/lot number is (M)28. Thanks again, Brent.

Another Ford tool collector from England, Keith Dunderdale sent me a few pictures of rare plow wrenches from his collection. The first one has EN16 stamped on one end. I have EN18 and EN5C examples in my collection but have never seen the EN16 one. We're still trying to decipher the EN part. One would think it's for the "English Ford" version but the suffix numbers don't comply to that rule. I suspect they stood for Electro-Nickel Plating which was a popular form of metal coating back then. I have a Ferguson Spanner in my collection which clearly shows a plating-not a plain, painted forging. The last picture is one of Keiths' that is the same size as the 9N17014 tool only the handle part is ribbed. Keith has two of these, one with ENGLAND as the only identifying mark and the other with no markings. This is another unknown manufacturer so if any one has any info, please share. Keith and I have been exchanging tool info for a few years now and we were both researching the VBW logo and came up with Vaughan Bros. Wolverhamton, Willenahll, Staffordshire, England leads but could not get a direct confirmation. Those villages, cities, and counties listed all were heavy industrial areas with mining of coal, iron ore, and limestone- the three ingredients for making steel. There was an abundance of foundries and steel mills there also. Locks and keys; WWI and WWII bomb casings and cycles also were made there. YALE lock is still a big business there today.

Now, back to the FORD Plow Wrench. The versions made for FORD by the MOORE DROP FORGING CO, had their circled (M) logo and a mold/die/lot number directly to the right of it in the middle of the tool on the back side. We think there were 31 mold/die/lot numbers in all, however 29 is the highest in my collection and 5 is the lowest. Keith's lowest is 5 and highest is 30. Brent also has a 5 and 30. I have a MOORE 7 and 8 but neither has front markings of a Ford logo or part number. Guys, go out to your barns or garages or workshops and look for (M) numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 31. I'd be happy to buy any of these or work out a trade. More to come.

Tim Daley (MI)
*9N653I*
*8NI55I3*

Brent Muellers' Unusual FoMoCo Plow Wrench-No Part Number!-

Keith Dunderdales' Unusual EN16 marked Ferguson Spanner-

Keith Dunderdales' Ribbed Handle Plow Wrench-

Group-
It turns out I had contacted the wrong George Fields estate in England as the real one sent me an email from "beyond the grave". That explains the widows strange comments and behavior like, "I didn't know he had a Ferguson/Brown tractor...". George (the Fergie guru)is very much still alive and well. He offered up this information to me on the original Ferguson Spanner for the 1936 Ferguson Brown Type A Tractor. According to George, "...as for the spanner it is the same dimensions as later Ferguson spanners but with the large jaw at 1-1/8" instead of 1-1/16", with inches on one side and FERGUSON in block letters on the other. I have two here, one very good which came on my 'A' new in1939 and another very corroded, given to me by a former tractor driver of mine who found it in a field..." This would confirm the picture I posted below of the one in question. But, it contradicts what Colin Fraser wrote in his book about the size being, "...1-1/16 AF (across flats)..." I have been attempting to contact Mr. Fraser for several years. He is still alive but lives in South America and is somewhat of a recluse. I will persist in my quest and keep y'all updated as info comes in.

Tim Daley(MI)

...here's a picture of the Vaughan Bros. Willenhall Plow Wrench. Part numbe 4161c and the VBW/Staffordshire Knot Logo on the back of wrench shown. The front of the tool has inch hash marks and the 3/6 are pronounced. Probably made for Ferguson, but what year? My research shows most of the areas foundries and steel mills were gone after WWII. Comments and input encouraged.

Tim

Correction to my post below:

The plow wrench I have with inch marks, 3 and 6, but no logo or part number is NOT marked (M)5 (M in a circle), rather the M is NOT in a circle. For what that's worth.

Hi Jim-
Yes, the lone capital M would make it a MANZEL tool. Manzel was a major supplier to Ford of tools and other forgings. Based in Buffalo, New York, MANZEL also had a facility in Cleveland, Ohio. Any early Ford Plow Wrench without the logo and part number was made by MANZEL. The earliest MOORE, (M) circled capital M logo, I have is an (M)5 with FORD USA logo and part number 9N17014...I am always looking for any other early lot numbers. I have everything else after 9.

Tim Daley(MI)

I finally got enough strength to go mess around in the garage for 1/2 hour. Wiped me out. However, I did find all my plow wrenches. Nothing new to report really, but here's what I have:

(M)5: inch hash marks with 3 and 6, but no part number and no Ford logo.

(M)10: Same as above with addition of 9N17014 part number and Ford logo.

(M)27: Same as (M)10 but the Ford logo changes to FoMoCo.

Also, (M)10 and (M)27 have U.S.A. next to the logo

I also have a 4th wrench that also appears to be a (M)10, but it is very worn. I can only make out a faint 10 but the M in a circle is wiped clean. Other than that the other side is identical to my other (M)10.