Grinnell Quartzoid/Duraspeed Sprinkler Wrench and Box

Description

What would eventually become the Grinnell Company started as Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Co. in Providence, Rhode Island in 1850 as an installer of gas mains and plumbing supply house. Eventually, the company became a manufacturer and installer of fire extinguishing systems, which, at the time, often consisted of perforated pipes which were connected to a water main and in the event of fire were turned on by-hand. While this was an improvement overt bucket brigades, businesses were often overwhelmed long before a fire department could arrive.
In 1869, Frederick Grinnell, a Massachusetts-born engineer, purchased a controlling interest in Providence Steam and Gas and became its president. In 1874, Henry S. Parmelee of New Haven, Connecticut, patented an automatic sprinkling device, and four years later the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Co. secured the right to manufacture and install it, paying royalties to the inventor. In 1881, Grinnell patented an improved, more sensitive sprinkling system, which featured a valve sprinkler with deflectors that was activated by the melting of solder. (
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/grinnell-corp-history/
).
The solder activated devices became the standard in the industry and were credited with preventing mass destruction in a thousand businesses where the systems were installed. Ten years later, Grinnell invented a glass activated device where a bubble filled with a colored liquid would burst when exposed to specific temperature and activate the system. This became the standard for the next half century!
Quartzoid is the Gem (Grinnell) name for their first glass bulb head. They were an upgrade to solder type linkages. Most sprinklers today operate off of  a glass bulb that breaks at a given temperature. The bulb color indicates the temperature. Most common is red for 155º. (
http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=11559.0
)
This Wrench was found at the bottom of a plastic storage container. The box shows the ravages of time, but remains complete enough to see that it it is dated as the “POSTAL AUTHORITIES MAY OPEN FOR INSPECTION” statement disappear from common usage many years ago. How old is the Wrench and box? The only information we can offer is that “(t)he Grinnell “Duraspeed” sprinkler, a staple in the industry through the early 1990’s made its introduction in 1931 (patented in 1932) – the same year in which tests showed quartzoid bulb sprinklers to be more heat sensitive than their solder link counterparts. (
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjJ1P3N1PTvAhXCAp0JHcd1AoQQFjAIegQIBhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tyco-fire.com%2FTFP_common%2FStationHouse02-15_5.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1LhcTvOkR7D1hFVIPNhygX
)
The Wrench resided in the battered Box for “however many” years and appears to have been un- or little-used. Obviously, rust has formed on one side of the Wrench, but this should be removable with ordinary restoration efforts. As is our custom we did no cleaning of the Wrench because we think collectors prefer to do it.
We will package, insure and ship the Wrench and Box by USPS Priority Mail and will do so on the next regular business day following receipt of payment.