New subject: Crescent wrenches (was: Nomenclature (was: NEXT Color Printer find

2 Jan 2002

...
 I don't know what they're teaching kids these
days, but in the time period
for which this list is relevant, mechanics did/do indeed refer to any
adjustable wrench of that particular design as a "Crescent Wrench".  They
do NOT use the term "Crescent Wrench" to refer to any other style of
adjustable wrench, and would consider THAT misuse as comparable to
referring to a box-end wrench as a "socket". 
At least around here, they are teaching that it is an Adjustable Wrench, 
and specifically teaching that it is NOT a Crescent wrench.

I also am personally unaware of ANYONE that professionally works with 
tools like these (and that means, NOT a person that repairs computers for 
a living and happens to have one for the rare occasions it is needed, but 
rather people that are in construction, or automotive repair, or 
similar), and calls it a Crescent wrench. At least as far as everyone I 
know, and what I learned in school (theater set construction, and the 
fire academy, and what I have found from friends that went to VoTech 
schools), the only people that call it a Crescent wrench are snickered at 
behind their backs because they are a "layman". That doesn't mean I think 
it is wrong to call it a crescent wrech (I still do sometimes as that was 
what I originally knew it as), they just specifically teach here NOT to 
call it that.

But that is just around here, and like all language terms, change 
dramatically with region (go to a restaurant around here and order "pop" 
and you will get a funny look... do it in the midwest, and they will know 
exactly what you want).

Also, flip open any tool catalog you want, you won't see a generic 
adjustable wrench listed as a Crescent Wrench. Flip open a electronics 
parts catalog, and you *might* see the push on, D shapey, "Centronics" 
connector (regardless of number of pins), listed as a "Centronics". Mind 
you, that does NOT make it correct, just that at least you can find it 
listed that way.

Of course, with all this, I am NOT saying that the connectors should be 
called Centronics. I personally don't care what they are called. 
Centronics, Blue Ribbon, or Susan... as long as I know what the person is 
talking about, then the term did its job, it conveyed meaning... and 
isn't that really the point to language in the first place?

...
 Calling the connector in question an "Amphenol
connector" (regardless of
who made that particular one) would, indeed be like using the
common term "Crescent Wrench" when referring to an "adjustable
wrench" (rather a vague, ambiguous name for it!) 
But the term arguers will complain about calling it an Amphenol just as 
much I am sure.

...
 But calling it a "Centronics connector",
particularly when dealing with
sizes other than 36, would be like calling the same wrench a "Ford
wrench". 
Agreed, but it still happens (albeit, wrongly)

...
 In the original post that was objected to, the writer
referred to
"Centronics Ports".  THAT was wrong.  If he were to have said "ports with
50 pin centronics connectors", then it would be a trivial misuse, and
everyone would know what he meant (although some would DOUBT whether what
he was seeing was correct -"are you sure they're 50s?").  BUT, a
"Centronics PORT" means a parallel printer port as its primary and only
meaning, and the ports in question were obviously not that. 
Again, agreed.

...
 One of the old classics of email "humor"
mentions in passing a "Craftsman
10mm crescent wrench".  Calling a wrench made by Craftsman a "Crescent" is
what you are talking about.  Since the dimensions of such wrenches were
the LENGTH of the wrench, and Crescent didn't at that time label any of
theirs in metric units, the "10mm" is just weird. 
LOL

...
 In my garage, we had a box with a 150mm Crescent
WANNABE, "rubber nails"
(steel nails for nailing rubber weatherstripping), spotted paint (sold in
a spray can by GM for repairing trunks), etc. for hazing the new parts
runners. 
And the all time favorite, ask for the 8/16th socket.

I think maybe I am the only one that saw the inherent humor and irony in 
arguing about calling things by their correct name, and not their common 
name, and using a Crescent wrench as an example of how TO call items by 
their correct name. <sigh> humor is wasted...

-chris

<http://www.mythtech.net>