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Manufacturers Index - Ridge Tool Co.

Ridge Tool Co.
Elyria, OH, U.S.A.
Manufacturer Class: Wood Working Machinery & Metal Working Machinery

Patents
This page contains information on patents issued to this manufacturer.

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USPTO = U.S. Patent Office . Images of the actual patent can be viewed on the U.S. Patent Office web site but a special TIFF viewer must be installed with your browser in order properly work. More information on how to configure your computer to view these patents can be found at TIFF image Viewers for Patent Images.
DATAMP = Directory of American Tool And Machinery Patents . A sister site to VintageMachinery.org with information on patents related to machinery and tools. A much easier user interface than the USPTO's for finding information on machinery patents.

Patent Number Date Title Name City Description
1,549,164 Aug. 11, 1925 Pipe Wrench William O. Thewes Ridgeville, OH The design is intended to be strong enough to withstand strain at right angles to the "intended" direction (as in bending pipe), and have the spring in a protected location.
This patent and Thewe's Sept. 1, 1925 patent no. 1,552,091 are the beginning of the RIDGID line of pipe wrenches.
1,552,091 Sep. 01, 1925 Pipe Wrench William O. Thewes North Ridgeville, OH The features noted in the patent include the size scale on the shank of the movable jaw, friction springs in the casing to hold the jaw in the adjusted position, flared bearing surfaces at the back side of the casing, and the shape of the gripping teeth. 6 in. and 14 in. RIDGID pipe wrenches matching the middle drawing (or earlier version with a flat spring - pat no. 1,549,164) and marked in part "PAT PEND." are known. A 10 inch "THEWES PYPE-FIT-ER" (tm) PAT APLD FOR // THE ELYRIA WRENCH CO. ELYRIA O. example apparently represents Thewes' initial production of the wrench before his association with Ridge Tool.
Thewes' Sept. 10,1929 patent (no. 1,727,623), and the wrenches citing that patent have many similar features.
1,727,623 Sep. 10, 1929 Wrench William O. Thewes North Ridgeville, OH The wrench is identical to the patent drawing. Known example marked "RIDGID PAT 1727623 // RIDGE TOOL CO ELYRIA O U.S.A."
The wrenches with this patent number have many features carried over from Thewes' Sept. 1, 1925 patent (no. 1,552,091).
1,833,980 Dec. 01, 1931 Pipe cutter William O. Thewes North Ridgeville, OH
2,004,639 Jun. 11, 1935 Diestock William O. Thewes Ridgeville, Warren County, OH Reversible pawl structure for a ratcheting pipe threader having interchangeable die heads.
2,051,755 Aug. 18, 1936 Pipe Wrench William O. Thewes North Ridgeville, OH A double compression coil spring formed of a single piece of wire forms the "centering" springs for the frame of a Stillson type pipe wrench. The original application was divided, resulting in this patent and no. 2,076,830, isssued April 13, 1937.
2,076,830 Apr. 13, 1937 Pipe Wrench William O. Thewes Cleveland, OH The patent replaces leaf springs with conical compression coil springs to provide the "centering" function for the frame of a Stillson type pipe wrench.

Photo of known example marked "IMPROVED STILLSON / PAT. NO. 2076830" supplied by Sam Spector.

The original application was divided, and resulted in this patent and no. 2,051,755, issued Aug. 18, 1936.
D143,075 Dec. 04, 1945 Pipe Cutting Tool Carl H. Ingwer Elyria, Lorain County, OH
2,780,944 Feb. 12, 1957 Reversible drive for power tools Elmer J. Ondeck Brookfield, IL Seen on YouTube: an example of this reversible speed reducer. The box is labeled "Ridgid / Supreme Model No. 4100 Versamatic reversible power drill speed reducer / The Ridge Tool Company / Elyria, Ohio". This device may have been manufactured by Supreme for resale by Ridgid.
3,015,246 Jan. 02, 1962 Slideable Outer Jaw Wrench Walter Buyer North Olmsted, OH The jaw design is to fit hexagonal nuts or plumbing fittings. The wrench using this jaw engages three flats and a corner of the hexagon, and can be slid off and repositioned without changing the adjustment.
The wrench was produced in both variations shown in the patent drawings. Some of them bear the patent number.