41

Mechanic

’

s Dreams

“

Knife Adapted for Multiple Uses and Comprising

a Monkey Wrench

”

is the title of Jean Albert

Soustre

‟

s U. S. Patent No. 1,811,982 granted on

June 30, 1931. Soustre of Cendrieux, France had

already received French Patent No. 645.624 in 1928

(applied for December 13, 1927).

Soustre adapted a knife for multiple uses by

extending the middle portion and forming a

bulldog spanner wrench in the head. The scales are

mounted on the outside forming the wrench

handle and compartments for the folding blades

including a corkscrew. Soustre said the device

“

forms a very portable outfit which will be of great

service to users of bicycles, motorcycles,

automobiles, or to other persons, who are thus

provided, without opening a tool bag or box, with

the principal tools for making small repairs.

”