The Davistown Museum
Center for the Study of Early Tools
Scattered throughout The Davistown Museum are tools by important manufacturers who are also the subject of
information files compiled by the museum. This is a listing of our holdings for:
Loring and Aury Gates Coes

Status Location
Historic Maritime IV (1840-1865): The Early Industrial Revolution
Wrenches
TCZ3000 Monkey wrench bio DTM MH
Drop-forged iron, wood handle, 11 7/8" long, signed "L. COES PATEN__" (date obscured) and on the second side "____ BOSTON &
WORCESTER", probably c. 1835 - 1840.
This wrench appears to be one of the earliest versions of the famous Coes monkey wrench; Loring Coes patented his first wrench on April 16,
1841. The wrench has characteristics of the late 18th century or early 19th century hand-forged wrenches in the Davistown Museum
collection, particularly in the way the handle is manufactured. According to Herb Page <mroldwrench@mchsi.com> "During the period of
1848 to 1852 the firm of L & A.G. Coes contracted with the firm of Ruggles, Nourse & Mason on a 5 year term to market the entire production
of wrenches produced by this fledgling firm. R.N.& M. had branches in both Worcester & Boston and the wrenches produced during this time
period were stamped with 1) "L. Coes Patent", 2) "Ruggles, Nourse & Mason" if space permitted, depending on size of wrench and 3)
"Boston & Worcester" indicating the sales outlets of the marketing firm. These wrenches were manufactured in Worcester at the firm of L &
A. G. Coes and the particular marking referred to is indicative of early production during the above mentioned dates. These are quite rare
and have a distinctive circular insert in the working face of the lower jaw which is in line with the adjusting screw. Coes wrenches of this era
are quite rare and desirable among antique wrench collectors."
11301T12 Monkey wrench bio photo BDTM MH
Drop-forged iron and wood, 4 5/8" long, signed "L Coes & Co Pat Mar 29 1868".
Loring and his brother Aury Gates Coes had been in the wool machine business until 1839. This is the highly sought-after smallest size of
the many Coes wrenches.

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