curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

My apologies for not being 'A'-related, but what was the purpose of the curved handles? Certainly not for leverage.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

Offset handle to get into tight spaces. Probably more gimmick than practical. That’s my take, someone else may have a different angle.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1634617832
Very interesting set of old Shifting Spanners.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

Ive wondered the same thing. If you've ever tried to use them, you'll understand very quickly why they lost the evolutionary battle! I can see no reason for the curved hande, I hope someone with knowledge of the original intent chimes in.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

I’d buy them, if only for a conversation piece.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

For use as a hammer?

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

Maybe they did have a place on old farm equipment where straight arm would not fit. If you look at some of the factory supplied tools for the old equipment, you might see wrenches that had the same "S" shape.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

Some of the old wrenches had curly cues and aesthetic decorations on them and built into them. The curved wrenches maybe are just an aesthetic thing? If you'll look at some of the old old farm equipment, there's a lot of detail that is only for looks. The webbing in belt pulleys or steel wheels is sometimes an example of this. I'm just speculating, but it is an interesting subject.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

I've had one of those hanging on my torch cart since the 70's.It was pretty useless as an adjustable wrench,but to change the bottles it worked fine.I can only use it on the oxy bottle now,the acetylene bottles no longer use caps.They have recessed the valve down inside a welded on guard.That wrench is too big and gormy to reach down in there at an angle.A modern adjustable won't even do it,I have to use a 1-1/16 open held down at an angle.I have a few of those hanging up,some have names cast into the handles.

Re: curved-handle adjustable wrenches (not 'A')
 

The 1908 Sears, Roebuck & C0 described that style; IMPROVED EXTRA HEAVY ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Can be used in a thousand and one places where an ordinary wrench will not go. They also list the "S" shaped wrench with open ends in different size openings.