37PackardMan Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Here is a puzzling tool.One end has a hexagon maybe an early Packard hubcap tool.the other end has a pentagon and two holes .any ideas would be appreciated.Thanks for looking....Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Actually, it has an octagon and a pentagon. I believe it is a fire hydrant wrench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 This might be a stretch, but the pentagon looks just like the top of a fire hydrant bolt for opening the valve. The other end might be for taking the cap off???? just a guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 This might be a stretch, but the pentagon looks just like the top of a fire hydrant bolt for opening the valve. The other end might be for taking the cap off???? just a guessI believe Larry is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Keiser31,.... We must have been typing in the answer at the same time and hit enter at the same time. Great minds think alike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Keiser31,.... We must have been typing in the answer at the same time and hit enter at the same time. Great minds think alike.I was thinking the very same thing...what a surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Robin Coleman Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I do not think this is a hydrant wrench. The valve stem and caps on a plug are pentagon shaped. This tool is too short to allow sufficient leverage plus the ears on the end would hinder fire operations. I have never seen an octagon shape anywhere on fire apparatus. BTW...I am a retired vol. firefighter in Marion, AR. If it is a plug wrench it is the wierdest one I have ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I agree, I don't know what it is but, If it is a hydrant wrench, it is very old. I was a volunteer firefighter in the 1970's and we did not have any tools like that. I have also never seen one like that in any historical displays at a firehouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 The reason that I said that it was possibly a hydrant wrench is that I too was a volunteer firefighter for a number of years. Also, I have not seen any 5 sided bolts anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drwatson Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 There are several on ebay plus one with similar openings. They're described as "hydrant wrenches". One has id "#H5025"ebay items: 230420618022, 390134042913, 120511477509.I wonder what the dog ears are for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cben09 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Dog ears are for the caps that have pins sticking out,,,Still not sure of purpose,,,Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huptoy Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 (edited) The cover to the below ground water shut off valve in my front yard has a 5 sided bolt. The water department uses a socket wrench with a 3 ft shaft and handle. This looks like it will remove the bolt. Edited January 15, 2010 by huptoy (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Can you measure a flat side of the pentagon to see if it fits a hydrant? I have one next door to my house. The sides of the hydrant bolt are 15/16" each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erndog Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Dog ears are possibly for tightening old fire hose nozzles, which did have round ears sticking out from the bases on opposite sides. We had these on the firetruck we had when I was a kid. Ironically, it burned up in a big fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Ernie,You are right on the two holes in the wrench. The current fire hoses that I used have two pins on each end that are used to tighten and untighten the hose to the hydrant of another hose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stude8 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 The function of the "Dogears" is called a SPANNER WRENCH, one that engages lugs on the component being loosened or tightened. Have you taken a power wire wheel to this piece to try to uncover any identification markings? A tool part number might ID who made it and what it was dedicated to do. Stude8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Drake Posted September 26 Share Posted September 26 It’s called a Mueller Wrench. Use by water companies for Hydrants. Fire Departments use standard adjustable hydrant wrenches and spanner wrenches for the most part… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layden B Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 Larry, Our local power company uses 5 sided bolts for security doors on transformer and switch gear vaults. The wrench however is just a pentagon socket in their regular socket set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 On 1/11/2010 at 6:01 AM, Larry Schramm said: The reason that I said that it was possibly a hydrant wrench is that I too was a volunteer firefighter for a number of years. Also, I have not seen any 5 sided bolts anywhere else. I have seen 'City of Toronto' 5-sided wrenches for their hydrants. I remember Edmonton's hydrants are 3-sided. We sold McAvity hydrants and parts for a number of years. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E_Johnson Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 (edited) Here in Minneapolis, the hydrants have five-point valve stems and cap stems. Below is an old cast or forged Minneapolis Fire Department hydrant wrench that I picked up at an estate sale about ten years ago. "MFD" is embossed on the handle. "E 4" is painted on one side of the handle and "ENG 4" on the other. More recently, I picked up a longer handle hydrant wrench from the estate sale of an acquaintence who, for many years, was a property inspector for the City of MInneapolis. Edited September 27 by E_Johnson (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagefinds Posted Saturday at 06:00 PM Share Posted Saturday at 06:00 PM Here's a few kicking around here. Some are solid brass,a couple part brass. Some have been worked to the breaking point. Mostly un-named,one has RICH cast in,another AKRON STYLE 15. A couple look hand forged. The brass fitting has the knobs for the wrench to grab. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brasscarguy Posted yesterday at 04:52 AM Share Posted yesterday at 04:52 AM The 5 sided spanners and long handled wrenches are for fire hydrants. brasscarguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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