A wrench is a handheld tool that is used to tighten nuts and bolts. The first wrench was patented in 1835 by Solymon Merrick. In 1870, another wrench patent was granted to Daniel C. Stillson, a steamboat fireman, who invented the pipe wrench. Around 1858, Charles Moncky invented the first “monkey” wrench, and in 1913, Robert Owen Jr. received a patent for the first ratchet wrench. The concept of a “ratchetless” wrench is credited to John Vranish, a NASA/GSFC engineer.
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