Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Why would you name a wrench after a diminutive garden pest? Today we're goin' international, as we explore the origins of the "Mole Wrench" - aka the British Vise-Grip.
See the Full Story of Vise-Grip here: youtu.be/StL2Sf5awBc&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Check out the full Tool Lore playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
"Molewrench" Song: youtube.com/watch?v=VvCZd77q4cM&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Join this channel to get access to perks: youtube.com/channel/UCqlO54ZdQjkkjpgD1yWaWgQ/join
-=References=-
Mole & Son Patents:
patents.google.com/?inventor=Thomas+Robb+Coughtrie
patents.google.com/?assignee=Mole+%26+Son+Ltd+M
Mole Grip Trademarks: trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmowner/page/search?id=6189&domain=1&app=0&mark=UK00000774431
1881 Mary & Alfred Mole?: google.com/books/edition/The_Birmingham_commercial_list_afterw_Th/i-cNAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
Thomas Coughtrie Obit: web.archive.org/web/20100524111226/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4964635.ece
Mole Grip Postmark Story (page 37): britishpostmarksociety.org.uk/digital-publications
Old Mole Grip Ads: gracesguide.co.uk/M._Mole_and_Son
1919 Dash Lamp ad: google.com/books/edition/The_Autocar/HIkH7edtMW4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Mole+and+Son%22&pg=PA1104&printsec=frontcover
1971 Popular Science Ad: books.google.com/books?id=PQEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102&dq=mole+wrench&hl=en&sa=X
Thomas Coughtrie Portrait: artrenewal.org/artworks/thomas-coughtrie-19172008/stanley-cursiter/95470
Thomas Coughtrie on the Mulberry Harbours: google.com/books/edition/Geopolitical_Constructs/UzbqDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Thomas+Coughtrie&pg=PA101&printsec=frontcover
Dash Lamp ad 1919: google.com/books/edition/The_Autocar/HIkH7edtMW4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Mole+and+Son%22&pg=PA1104&printsec=frontcover
Mulberry Harbors Photos: wates.co.uk/news/wates-group/culture/mulberry-harbours
"Rover" sound effects recreated by mariefromascot -- freesound.org/s/807852 -- License: Attribution 4.0
"Funky Disco" by Biz Baz Studio: youtube.com/watch?v=8nqhDZ7aqus&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell: youtube.com/watch?v=OR2cbbRGthk&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Photos of Newport plant courtesy Google Earth
Chapters:
00:00 Parody Intro
01:13 Thomas Coughtrie
01:51 Mulberry Harbours
02:32 Coughtrie's Journal Translated into Cockney?
03:34 Petersen's Vise-Grip
04:05 M.K. Mole and Son
04:48 The Mole Wrench is Born
06:07 Moving to Newport
06:53 "Mikey the Mole" or ???
07:28 Fooling the Post Office
09:40 A Mole Wrench Song?
10:12 Coughtrie Retires
11:12 Parody Outro
Why would you name a wrench after a diminutive garden pest? Today we're goin' international, as we explore the origins of the "Mole Wrench" - aka the British Vise-Grip.
See the Full Story of Vise-Grip here: youtu.be/StL2Sf5awBc&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Check out the full Tool Lore playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
"Molewrench" Song: youtube.com/watch?v=VvCZd77q4cM&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Join this channel to get access to perks: youtube.com/channel/UCqlO54ZdQjkkjpgD1yWaWgQ/join
-=References=-
Mole & Son Patents:
patents.google.com/?inventor=Thomas+Robb+Coughtrie
patents.google.com/?assignee=Mole+%26+Son+Ltd+M
Mole Grip Trademarks: trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmowner/page/search?id=6189&domain=1&app=0&mark=UK00000774431
1881 Mary & Alfred Mole?: google.com/books/edition/The_Birmingham_commercial_list_afterw_Th/i-cNAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
Thomas Coughtrie Obit: web.archive.org/web/20100524111226/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4964635.ece
Mole Grip Postmark Story (page 37): britishpostmarksociety.org.uk/digital-publications
Old Mole Grip Ads: gracesguide.co.uk/M._Mole_and_Son
1919 Dash Lamp ad: google.com/books/edition/The_Autocar/HIkH7edtMW4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Mole+and+Son%22&pg=PA1104&printsec=frontcover
1971 Popular Science Ad: books.google.com/books?id=PQEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102&dq=mole+wrench&hl=en&sa=X
Thomas Coughtrie Portrait: artrenewal.org/artworks/thomas-coughtrie-19172008/stanley-cursiter/95470
Thomas Coughtrie on the Mulberry Harbours: google.com/books/edition/Geopolitical_Constructs/UzbqDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Thomas+Coughtrie&pg=PA101&printsec=frontcover
Dash Lamp ad 1919: google.com/books/edition/The_Autocar/HIkH7edtMW4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Mole+and+Son%22&pg=PA1104&printsec=frontcover
Mulberry Harbors Photos: wates.co.uk/news/wates-group/culture/mulberry-harbours
"Rover" sound effects recreated by mariefromascot -- freesound.org/s/807852 -- License: Attribution 4.0
"Funky Disco" by Biz Baz Studio: youtube.com/watch?v=8nqhDZ7aqus&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell: youtube.com/watch?v=OR2cbbRGthk&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Photos of Newport plant courtesy Google Earth
Chapters:
00:00 Parody Intro
01:13 Thomas Coughtrie
01:51 Mulberry Harbours
02:32 Coughtrie's Journal Translated into Cockney?
03:34 Petersen's Vise-Grip
04:05 M.K. Mole and Son
04:48 The Mole Wrench is Born
06:07 Moving to Newport
06:53 "Mikey the Mole" or ???
07:28 Fooling the Post Office
09:40 A Mole Wrench Song?
10:12 Coughtrie Retires
11:12 Parody Outro
