Career
However, this conflicts with other references that show the invention of the Vise Grip in Nebraska with an initial patent in 1921 and fuller developments patented in 1924. The likeness between the two is clear even from sketch drawings. He was born in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
After his education at Bellshill Academy he qualified as a chartered engineer
During the Second World War, he was an electrical engineer involved in the maintenance of 1,000 ton "Whale" floating roadways for Mulberry harbours. In 1947 he started working for the Birmingham engineering firm "M. When the second Mole brother died in 1950 he became managing director of the company.
In 1955 he patented the self-grip wrench. In 1960 the Mole company, and Coughtrie, relocated to Newport, South Wales.
He became a director of Cwmbrân New Town, governor of four local technical colleges and, in 1978, deputy lieutenant for Gwent.
