M. Mole and Son
of Charlotte Street, Birmingham, 3
of Crindau Works, Albany Street, Newport, Monmouthshire.
Manufacturers of the Mole self-grip wrench. It was clearly based on the Vise Grip wrench invented in the USA by William Petersen, but with some different features, principally the release mechanism, designed and patented by Thomas Coughtrie in the 1950s.[1]
Stanley Tools took over production of Mole wrenches, which for a time were branded Stanley Mole, and produced overseas.
1835 Company founded.
1919 Private company.
1937 Company made public.
1939 Pressings for Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. [2]
1949 Opened a new factory in Newport.[3]
1955 Advert on this page for Self-Grip Wrench. [4]
1956 Advert on this page for Self-Grip Wrench. [5]
1961 Manufacturers of "Mole" self grip wrenches, metal fitments, pressings and pressure diecastings in zinc and aluminium for the motor, electrical, engineering and aircraft trades. 600 employees. [6]
1963 The company moved all of its activities to its Newport factory.[7]
Production continued in Newport until the late 1970s. The factory site is now a Network Rail depot.