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nInnEngland, it’s called a spanner.
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nInnthe U.S., it’s called a wrench.
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nWhatevernthe name, the first of these tools was patented on this date in 1835nby a man named Solymon Merrick.
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nWrenchesnare used to tighten or loosen bolts, nuts, or anything that needs tonturn. Many wrenches are made to fit specific sizes of nuts and bolts,nand other wrenches are made with mouths that can be tightened ornloosened to fit various sizes of objects.
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nThenwrench is able to apply a lot more turning force on the mouth endnwith a relatively small amount of force on the handle end. That isnthe key to the power of levers—with a strong enough material and anlong enough lever, you can multiply force hugely and move even heavynthings. As a matter of fact, Archimedes is supposed to have said ofnthe power of levers, “Give me thenplace to stand, and I shall move the whole world.”
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nOtherninventors improved on the original design, soon inventing the monkeynwrench, pipe wrench, and ratchet wrench. (The monkey wrench got itsnname because Charles Moncky invented it.) n
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nMynfavorite “literal video” is sometimes called “Pipe Wrench Fight.”
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nAlsonon this date:
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nIndonesia’s National Day
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nInventor Ralph Teetor’s birthday
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