Plugging Away

When I started adding wrench and pliers patents to DATAMP, I first set out to add "known" patents identified by old wrench enthusiasts over the years, and later used the U.S. Patent system "CCLs" (e.g. 81/ .. TOOLS) to examine patents by classification.

I eventually decided the most thorough way to cover the territory is to look at "every" patent. That can be done since the old U.S. patents are online, and one of the DATAMP project leaders has devised a searching tool to speed the process.

I currently have gotten up to January, 1889. Every once in a while, I come across a patent like 395,658 which escaped the notice of previous wrench patent compilers like Don Shockley and Steven Eckers.

In the process, I also come across things like Franklin's Never Slip Wrench which I have never seen. (Anyone have one they'd be willing to photograph & share a picture?)

I'm also working on the December issue of the Missouri Valley Wrench Club Newsletter. In addition to information gleaned at the fall meeting, the newsletter has data from several farm implement repair parts manuals, and a "once in a lifetime" find from a former farm implement manufacturer's factory.

Connecting dots

In addition to the Missouri Valley Wrench Club newsletter, a substantial portion of my "hobby" time the last few years has been devoted to adding patent entries to DATAMP. One wonderful thing about DATAMP is that it is a volunteer collaboration that (so far at least) is free of advertising.

The image in this post is copied from my DATAMP entry for U.S. patent no. 426,224. It incorporates portions of the drawing from the U.S. Patent Office web site, and a highly edited photo from a display at a recent MVWC club meeting.

Holding a key position in the wrench collecting hobby, and having sufficient information technology skills to put these disparate pieces together, is gratifying.
(Nov. 6, 2008) P.S. The date on this post is misleading; the current version completely replaces the entry of the earlier date.