> > Is spanner the Brit name for wrench, like open end or box wrench or 
> > perhaps crescent wrench?
> 
> Well it's the *English* word for it... I don't think it's 
> just Britain that uses it :-)
> 
> Wrench tends to be used for the less precision tools, like 
> Stillson or pipe wrenches, whereas spanner usually means 
> precision devices like open-ended or ring spanners.  I think 
> what you call a "crescent wrench" we call an "adjustable 
> spanner" (the swedish company Bahco makes some very nice, 
> very expensive ones - most of the others aren't terribly good 
> and tend to have so much slop that they are very likely to 
> round off a nut that needs a high force to undo it).
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Howard Winter
> St.Albans, England


Australia is pretty much the same, except we call "adjustable spanners"
shifters for some reason.

We also like our tools to be dual purpose - 
<http://www.alexjulius.com.au/nafa_good_gear_2005/images/sea%20spanner.jpg>.

Just what every crappy tool needs, a bottle opener.

Tony

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