Overman Wheel bicycle wrench

Datamp.org

 I happened upon this surprisingly modern angular-style bicycle wrench at Datamp.org, a far cry from the usual wrenches of the day. Turns out it was patented by British inventor James Kemp Starley, who is better known for the modern "safety" bicycle, which replaced the "penny farthing" and was responsible for the wild popularity of bicycling in the 1890s. His company, Rover made bicycles before branching into motorcycles and then cars. (you might remember a Rover post from a few days ago, everything is connected, apparently)

The sheetmetal wrench was adopted by the Overman Wheel company, a bicycle manufacturer in Chicopee Falls and sold under their own name.  A Jan 1891 ad shows the OVERMAN WHEEL CO. "VICTOR" PAT APLD FOR wrench as a new product. It didn't last, an 1894 advertisement indicates Overman Wheel was abandoning this design for a lighter style with one open side.