The Mole Wrench (Britain's Vise-Grip) History and Lore

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Automotive Do It Yourself

Why would you name a wrench after a diminutive garden pest? Today we're goin' international, as we explore the origins of the "Mole Wrench" - aka the British Vise-Grip.
-=References=-

Mole & Son Patents:
https://patents.google.com/?inventor=Thomas+Robb+Coughtrie
https://patents.google.com/?assignee=Mole+%26+Son+Ltd+M

Mole Grip Trademarks: https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmowner/page/search?id=6189&domain=1&app=0&mark=UK00000774431

1881 Mary & Alfred Mole?: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Birmingham_commercial_list_afterw_Th/i-cNAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

Thomas Coughtree Obit: https://web.archive.org/web/20100524111226/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4964635.ece

Mole Grip Postmark Story (page 37): https://www.britishpostmarksociety.org.uk/digital-publications

Old Mole Grip Ads: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/M._Mole_and_Son

1919 Dash Lamp ad: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Autocar/HIkH7edtMW4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Mole+and+Son%22&pg=PA1104&printsec=frontcover

1971 Popular Science Ad: https://books.google.com/books?id=PQEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102&dq=mole+wrench&hl=en&sa=X

Thomas Coughtree Portrait: https://www.artrenewal.org/artworks/thomas-coughtrie-19172008/stanley-cursiter/95470

Thomas Coughtrie on the Mulberry Harbours: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Geopolitical_Constructs/UzbqDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Thomas+Coughtrie&pg=PA101&printsec=frontcover

Dash Lamp ad 1919: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Autocar/HIkH7edtMW4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Mole+and+Son%22&pg=PA1104&printsec=frontcover

Mulberry Harbors Photos: https://www.wates.co.uk/news/wates-group/culture/mulberry-harbours/

"Rover" sound effects recreated by mariefromascot -- https://freesound.org/s/807852/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

"Funky Disco" by Biz Baz Studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nqhDZ7aqus&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy

"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR2cbbRGthk&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy

Photos of Newport plant courtesy Google Earth

Chapters:
00:00 Parody Intro
01:13 Thomas Coughtrie
01:51 Mulberry Harbours
02:32 Coughtrie's Journal Translated into Cockney?
03:34 Petersen's Vise-Grip
04:05 M.K. Mole and Son
04:48 The Mole Wrench is Born
06:07 Moving to Newport
06:53 "Mikey the Mole" or ???
07:28 Fooling the Post Office
09:40 A Mole Wrench Song?
10:12 Coughtrie Retires
11:12 Parody Outro

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