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Mystery tools from the pawn shop

Cargo

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Sep 22, 2009
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Where I hang my hat.
Found these while rooting through the loose tools bin at a pawn shop. They all seem to be made well from good steel. The orange one has a 15,000 lb. rating but the grade 5 bolt may not be original. It is the only one with any markings. The fourth pic is the first item partly apart. The interior is conical. There are more pics at http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=699
I think I have an idea on two of them but my speculations have reached an end. Yours are more than welcome.

View media item 5631
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Lump

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Jamestown, Ohio
The orange piece looks like some kind of lifting lug, for use with an overhead crane on crates with special straps, etc.
 
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Cargo

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Where I hang my hat.
The orange piece looks like some kind of lifting lug, for use with an overhead crane on crates with special straps, etc.

Took it to three crane and cable places. They all said 'I've been doing this for 20 years and I've never seen one of those before.' with variations on the years of experience. With the way the pieces move, it definitely looks like what you said or a wire rope item. Maybe just wire? Anyone work for a power company?:shocking:
 

Johnny chaos

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upstate NY
I believe the third is used to pressure test radiators? At least it looks similar to the one in my toolbox :) They mount to the radiator and then a pump is fastened to them to pressurize the radiator. The second picture looks similar to the the tool that turns in the caliper pistons for rear calipers with an integrated e-brake?
 
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caper

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cape breton
Took it to three crane and cable places. They all said 'I've been doing this for 20 years and I've never seen one of those before.' with variations on the years of experience. With the way the pieces move, it definitely looks like what you said or a wire rope item. Maybe just wire? Anyone work for a power company?:shocking:

I work for a power company and I can't say I've ever seen a wire puller in that style.Doesn't mean it's not one.Looks similar but way too heavy duty for general line work.Most line pullers I see are used with a 1 ton comealong.Perhaps it was designed for stringing cable on something like a bridge.
 

GTO

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NJ,FL
I hope the coins next to the items is all you paid for them.
 
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Cargo

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Sep 22, 2009
Messages
99
Location
Where I hang my hat.
I hope the coins next to the items is all you paid for them.

I usually dig around, find a small metal socket/tool set box and load it with cherry picked small items (a few high quality router bits, a filthy but intact Snap-on hex key set, etc...) some interesting unknown items (see the pics) and some broken/bent/rusty import stuff as camouflage. Offer $1 to $3 for the lot. Sometimes they poke at it a bit and say yes. Sometimes they say 'How about $5 ?' If I get the $5 answer - I'll go grab two additional $5 items and add them to the pile and set down a $5 bill. Amazing how often it works. Got a $100+ specialty tool thrown in with the orange thing using the 'add another thing or two' bit because they had no idea what it was. So the unknown items are basically gratis. Don't have pics of the last unknown thing I bought, but it was 23 cents. That, friends, is cheap fun in my book.:thumbup:
 
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