Babbitt scraper ??????

[Private Lugnutz]

Anybody know anything definitive about this tool?

Searches on the marking – WRIGHT 2T71300, which I’m assuming is Wright Tools and a part number, turn up zip. I will say that I’ve never seen that particular branding before from Wright, either. If it didn’t have the number, it almost looks as if it was applied unprofessionally, like an owner’s mark.

It’s about 10 inches long, not counting the tang. As you can see, it resembles a file – like a vintage stiletto file, or a pippin or barrette file, but there are no teeth milled into it. One edge is rounded and the other is lethal. And it comes to a sharp point, too, again, like the files mentioned above.

Babbitt scraper is my best guess. The ones I have seen were made out of three-corner file stock. I’ve read about old timers wrapping Babbitt scrapers in oilcloths to save a finger when rummaging around in the bottom of a toolbox, so the plastic sheath makes sense.

But I am very open to suggestions.

 

[1930artdeco]

logical thinking and same as what I would come up with.

Mike

 

[Bdgjr215]

I own a few from my engine building days. I couldn't tell you where they came from or a maker of them.probably flea market finds over time.

 

[notlob]

I think belonged to either Orville or Wilbur.

 

[3baygarage]

It does look like it was made out of a file.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

It does look like it was made out of a file.

It sure looks as said above ^^^.. which of course how many scrapers are made for all sortsd of uses including bearing / bushing work and "scraping in" or to shape / flat varios sufaces to match...

 

[fl18guy]

looks like a good prison shank too me.

 

[yhprum]

Made by whatever is at hand that can be ground and hold a sharp edge. After you pour the babbit bearing material, (dykem) blue the bearing, put it back together and turn the shaft. pull it apart. Where the blue has gone carefully scrap/ remove some bearing material, blue again, repeat the process until desired clearance is achieved. I recall someone telling a story once how after rebuilding a modern V6 engine, the crank was tight to turn. Has his grandad use the above process to take down the area that was causing the binding.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Made by whatever is at hand that can be ground and hold a sharp edge. After you pour the babbit bearing material, (dykem) blue the bearing, put it back together and turn the shaft. pull it apart. Where the blue has gone carefully scrap/ remove some bearing material, blue again, repeat the process until desired clearance is achieved. I recall someone telling a story once how after rebuilding a modern V6 engine, the crank was tight to turn. Has his grandad use the above process to take down the area that was causing the binding.

Yhprum, you made me remember Prussian Blue.... That's the material we used to 'scrape in' a small flat piece way back in college... in the days of practicing hand filing, etc..

View media item 58950

 

[RAYJAY]

Made by whatever is at hand that can be ground and hold a sharp edge. After you pour the babbit bearing material, (dykem) blue the bearing, put it back together and turn the shaft. pull it apart. Where the blue has gone carefully scrap/ remove some bearing material, blue again, repeat the process until desired clearance is achieved. I recall someone telling a story once how after rebuilding a modern V6 engine, the crank was tight to turn. Has his grandad use the above process to take down the area that was causing the binding.

not dykem bluing its Prussian Blue Non-Drying, we would use blue ink in doing the folder bearings also used to scrape some brass half shells

pouring babbit ***** o the good old day

 

[RAYJAY]

the tool shown looks to straight for scrapping a bearing, we mad a lot of scrapers out of old files, unless its for a really big bearing

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Most of the commercial Babbitt scrapers I found on-line or in vintage catalogs were from Kraeuter, Moore, Goodell-Pratt, and Heller, and they had a handle and a thin shank with the scraper - either a three-corner shape or a curved pointed spoon shape - forged on the end of the shank. Then there're the home-made jobbies, from pre-milled file stock or just grinding down a file into the shape you want. This thing seems to be a hybrid of the two. Clearly looks like pre-milled file stock stuck in a file handle, but it has a Mfgr's name and part number. And Wright did supply the USAAF with tools. I'm going with generic machinists scraper for now until I can find out more.

 

[leg17]

The name Wright looks hand stamped.
I suspect it was home made by Mr. Wright.
The number could be anything, even some reference to the type of material.
If it is not sharp, it could be some sort of burnishing tool.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The name Wright looks hand stamped.

Agreed. I noted that in my first post...

it almost looks as if it was applied unprofessionally, like an owner’s mark..

..but I did find a reference to Wright making a machinists scraper, so I didn't want to eliminate it outright until I had more info.

If it is not sharp, it could be some sort of burnishing tool.

One edge is, but it could be a lot sharper. The other is not. So I'll look into that as a possibility. Thanks much.

 

[four.cycle]

^ take a look in the bottom left corner of the first image I posted last night HERE:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5605950#post5605950

looks just like yours but without a handle.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It does! Thanks.

 

[four.cycle]

didn't click until somebody asked about Walden in another thread.
looks near identical to that one of yours but with no handle, doesn't it?

 

[larry_g]

Lets not forget that Wright was also an aircraft engine manufacture. So with that marking it might be a specific tool for use on a Wright engine.

lg
no neat sig line