Ernie Leimkuhler wrote:

They are eastern european.

Is this to express they are rubbish? ;-)
They are known and used in Europe. Call it "old europe", if you want.

In Prague they use it as the symbol for a car repair shop.

Not just there. I remember to have seen it in Austria, Germany and I
would not wonder in many more central europe countries. It was (or is)
used by the local variants of AMA to signal where you can get help for
your car.
But, that tools is going out of use. You already learned why. :-)


It barely fits anywhere under a car and tends to slip off and bark your
knuckles at any opportunity.

No use there. But do you remember the times when there was plenty of
room under the hood of any car? I use the spanner for plumbing work
sometimes, and most for the kind of jobs the OP needs it for. For that,
it really is excellent. Also as an hammer.

Oh, and if it slips off, you are using it in the wrong direction.


Nick
--
Motor Modelle // Engine Models
http://www.motor-manufaktur.de