A cool tool with some history.

[TimDaToolMan]

I picked up a small box full of old tools. There are some other keepers in there, such as a Keen Kutter pre 1940 wrench, but this was the true keeper.

The Wrench says "CB&Q", which was a large railroad that operated in the Midwest.

But what made it cooler, was the fact the tool was dated. "12.25.07". Which of course is December 25th, 1907.

What makes it weird is the fact...I didn't think people worked on the railroad on Christmas day, but of course times were different back then.

Now we move onto the name "JH Weidenhamer". I did a google search, and found he was a road foreman in my town during the 1900s and 1910s.

I wonder what the "GT" stands for?

 

[bobadame]

I picked up a small box full of old tools. There are some other keepers in there, such as a Keen Kutter pre 1940 wrench, but this was the true keeper.


.

What makes it weird is the fact...I didn't think people worked on the railroad on Christmas day, but of course times were different back then.

I can assure you that people work for the rail road every minute of every hour of every day of the year. Been there, done that.

 

[bob15]

Doesn't mean he was working on Christmas Day. He could have received the wrench as a gift for Christmas......

A lot of people work on Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Easter, etc....including myself and many people in my family have been "blessed" working holidays.

And let's not forget the farmers who work EVERY day!

bob

 

[softailgarage]

Is it possible that's a "C" not a "G" meaning Connecticut?

 

[mercman86]

I work for BN (now BNSF), Chicago, Burlington and Quincy's Successor. I can assure you that we do work on Christmas day! The railroad does not stop! It is a neat piece though. Looks like it could be something used by the track gang or maybe an equipment operator.

 

[Erampu]

I think it means "Great Tool!"

 

[Mustang1167]

I work for BN (now BNSF), Chicago, Burlington and Quincy's Successor. I can assure you that we do work on Christmas day! The railroad does not stop! It is a neat piece though. Looks like it could be something used by the track gang or maybe an equipment operator.

T&E works on Xmas. When's the last time you seen a track gang out on a holiday? Maybe a weekend once, twice a year? I bet it was a gift he stamped at home that he received on Xmas. Nice piece.

 

[Pumpman1968]

Very cool piece, especially with the hometown connection.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Is it possible that's a "C" not a "G" meaning Connecticut?

Even if it was a "C" for "CT" it's unlikely it would have been intended as an abbreviation for Connecticut back in 1907. Prior to the concurrent introduction of ZIP Codes and 2-letter state abbreviations in 1963, the common abbreviation for Connecticut was "Conn" (and the two commonly used for your state were "Cal." and "Calif." instead of CA).

 

[4xdog]

It was probably a Christmas gift, hence the date. Maybe from his crew.

 

[7th Kahuna]

Sweet, I love finds offering clues to an historical connection.

 

[shanker]

I think it's humorous how people think that 1-3% of the population work on holidays....I used to work in Healthcare (Hospital) and now in the Oil & Gas Upstream (Drilling) industry and work happens every minute of every day of every year w/o every stopping.

 

[3baygarage]

Might G.T. stand for a train Terminal? For instance here in Buffalo was the Central Terminal.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Yeah I'm digging the Christmas gift idea too.

 

[ADSR]

Great find! It's very cool to think about the history that goes along with it!

 

[fxgmech]

I don't know much about RR's except they never stop hauling. My guess is the tool crib clerk had to be on-site, alert, and looking useful. Considering that they all worked together at not ruining a holiday just because you need to work part of it, at a hefty premium, maybe he had a list of "internal labor" tasks to keep working at while hoping there was no big wreck cleanup to support?

 

[rancherbill]

Maybe they are the initials of the person who gave the tool as a Christmas present.

 

[rtbt]

what most dont know, that tool was used by the fireman on a steam locomotive. when the engineer called out to 'pour on the steam', the fireman would open a valve using that tool to pour him a bucket of steam. the little brother to that tool was used in later years in the aviation industry to unravel flight line or stir up prop wash.

the one you have there appears to be left handed and is extremely rare. a good find my friend.

 

[Tucko]

It would be even cooler if you could track down some of that man's relatives, and return the tool...

 

[Gmonkee]

That shows light use. Being a foreman he probably did more with a gruff voice and a pointed finger than that wrench while working.

It does prove he was well liked though. A personalized gift like that would have been something special.

I have a few antique stamped steel wrenches, and if they have been used much at all the wear is rather easy to see.

 

[MJB24]

what most dont know, that tool was used by the fireman on a steam locomotive. when the engineer called out to 'pour on the steam', the fireman would open a valve using that tool to pour him a bucket of steam. the little brother to that tool was used in later years in the aviation industry to unravel flight line or stir up prop wash.

the one you have there appears to be left handed and is extremely rare. a good find my friend.

I am not familiar with this tool. Explain please how it is left handed. I see it can flip upside down and seems it wouldn't matter.

 

[uart]

With those non-parallel jaws, can someone tell me what type of fitting or fastener that wrench would have turned? Did the toothed edge engage with the corners of a square nut or was it something else?

 

[Gmonkee]

This is called an aligator wrench. They were the one-size-fits-all of a century ago.

You can use them on hex or square nuts equally well, and they do work. The smooth side catches a flat on the bolt and a tooth catches a corner on the other side. While not ideal for everything they are quite useful.
I carry a modern version, the Latshaw pocketwrench II in my cell phone case the last few years and have used it in odd situations. Its smaller than a Leatherman and tightens bolts better. Easy to forget its there most of the time for the lack of bulk.

To the men of a century ago, these were the answer to a handy little tool on your person much like many of us today carry a 6" adjustable or Leatherman type pliers with us.

 

[jeffmoss26]

That pocketwrench looks super handy! Wish I would have known about it in my lighting and sound days...would have been VERY useful when focusing fixtures!

 

[uart]

You can use them on hex or square nuts equally well, and they do work. The smooth side catches a flat on the bolt and a tooth catches a corner on the other side.

Ok thanks. That's kind of how I imagined it would work, but I wasn't sure if it would handle hex as well as square. I do know square fasteners were very commonly used back then.

 

[Gmonkee]

Jeff, mine was a gift from a friend, probably purchased dirt cheap in a CA swap meet. And yes, it is a little lifesaver for stuff at the oddest moments.

It was supposed to get tossed in a box of gimmick tools but it looked legit enough to try out, and it has been daily carry for a good while.

For those of us that go places where they don't want us to carry a knife based tool it could be an option too. Airports, bus stations, the list grows.....

 

[mercman86]

T&E works on Xmas. When's the last time you seen a track gang out on a holiday? Maybe a weekend once, twice a year? I bet it was a gift he stamped at home that he received on Xmas. Nice piece.

That's true and many times the track guys are laid off for the winter (depending on seniority of course) I am an electrician and the mechanical shops are working the holidays. I don't care since I dont have any kids. Ill have to look around the old part of the shop for one of those. Theres lots of old treasures lying in the dirt on the ground or in the basement.

 

[DenisG]

I picked up a small box full of old tools. There are some other keepers in there, such as a Keen Kutter pre 1940 wrench, but this was the true keeper.

The Wrench says "CB&Q", which was a large railroad that operated in the Midwest.

But what made it cooler, was the fact the tool was dated. "12.25.07". Which of course is December 25th, 1907.

What makes it weird is the fact...I didn't think people worked on the railroad on Christmas day, but of course times were different back then.

Now we move onto the name "JH Weidenhamer". I did a google search, and found he was a road foreman in my town during the 1900s and 1910s.

I wonder what the "GT" stands for?

I couldn't find anything to solve the "GT" mystery, but I did find this:
http://www.gmptools.com/nf/70451.htm

I didn't know about "alligator wrenches", but it makes sense when you look at them.