Big Boy Scissor Jack info needed

[autobon7]

Purchased a Big Boy scissor jack at a flea market for $5. It operates smoothly but needs a good cleaning. Missing the handle......none of my misc jack handles have the same "coupling" so I may modify one of them to work. Pic is not my actual unit just random pic from search as mine needs to be more presentable lol. Did any auto manufacturer ever include these when new? Just looking for more info on this neat piece.

 

[RTM]

Looks a little too generic, and useful for other things, to have been an auto jack. Most have contoured top plates to fit into their jacking spot on their car only. Only some older Chevy van ones had nice flat spots but they still had a ramp at one end.

 

[bonneyman]

I needed a small cheapie jack just to have around for lifting objects too heavy to do single-handedly. Found a pressed sheet metal scissor jack and modified it. Made a new driving end too out of a 3/8" drive socket. Can use a speed handle or cordless impact. Flat enough to tuck into tight spaces, enough capacity to lift an appliance, very low cost outlay. Works great!

 

[autobon7]

I needed a small cheapie jack just to have around for lifting objects too heavy to do single-handedly. Found a pressed sheet metal scissor jack and modified it. Made a new driving end too out of a 3/8" drive socket. Can use a speed handle or cordless impact. Flat enough to tuck into tight spaces, enough capacity to lift an appliance, very low cost outlay. Works great!

Thats a great idea thanks for sharing

 

[JimDon]

My father had a Big Boy jack. I think it may have come with the `39 Chevy that he owned, but I could be mistaken. It might have been with his 1950 Olds. It was around as long as I could remember. He was not the kind of guy who would go out and buy a jack for use with his car or around the house, so I assume it came with a car -- but I could be wrong. Wish I still had that jack, but alas, I left it in the garage when we sold the family home back in 1995. I used it for years to do all kinds of repairs on my first car, a 1968 Mustang GT. The handle folded in half and the end that fit into the jack was a simple T that you would place in the female end vertically and then straighten out for lifting. When straightened, the handle would not come out of the jack, so you could slide the jack around the garage floor pulling on the handle. The thrust bearing was probably the weakest link on the jack because I pretty much wore it out from use and overuse, and probably abuse too. A place to get a thrust bearing that fits might be Grainger or McMaster, and others may know possible routes to go if yours needs a thrust bearing. The platform was a dull red. The scissor part was gloss black. As scissor jacks go, it was probably one of the most stable with a wide foot and a decent lift platform. Wish I still had it. That's about all the info I know or can remember. Brought back great memories, thanks for the post. Cheers, JimDon
PS. Stable yes, but NOT for use when under a car. Even as a stupid kid, I knew you had to put jack stands underneath.

 

[RTM]

Well, shows what I know. I was thinking it was much newer. Poking about into a 1950's book turns up this.



And a 1941 book has earlier dates applied for



And here it is listed as "service station" suggested stock

Distribution Problems: On retail distribution of petroleum and related products

www.google.com

Still don't know if it was provided standard with any brand of car, vs a third party supplier.

 

[bonneyman]

Thats a great idea thanks for sharing

I had one of the legs on my rooftop evap cooler break the support pad, and I couldn't hold the cooler up while needing both hands to swap out the wooden block. Came up with the jack idea, and the next spring before I filled it with water did the changeout. Worked like a charm!
Wished I thought of it about 20 years earlier. Oh well, I was younger then and just muscled it like a dummy!

 

[autobon7]

My father had a Big Boy jack. I think it may have come with the `39 Chevy that he owned, but I could be mistaken. It might have been with his 1950 Olds. It was around as long as I could remember. He was not the kind of guy who would go out and buy a jack for use with his car or around the house, so I assume it came with a car -- but I could be wrong. Wish I still had that jack, but alas, I left it in the garage when we sold the family home back in 1995. I used it for years to do all kinds of repairs on my first car, a 1968 Mustang GT. The handle folded in half and the end that fit into the jack was a simple T that you would place in the female end vertically and then straighten out for lifting. When straightened, the handle would not come out of the jack, so you could slide the jack around the garage floor pulling on the handle. The thrust bearing was probably the weakest link on the jack because I pretty much wore it out from use and overuse, and probably abuse too. A place to get a thrust bearing that fits might be Grainger or McMaster, and others may know possible routes to go if yours needs a thrust bearing. The platform was a dull red. The scissor part was gloss black. As scissor jacks go, it was probably one of the most stable with a wide foot and a decent lift platform. Wish I still had it. That's about all the info I know or can remember. Brought back great memories, thanks for the post. Cheers, JimDon
PS. Stable yes, but NOT for use when under a car. Even as a stupid kid, I knew you had to put jack stands underneath.

I see a couple on ebay. If you are near the St Louis area I would give you mine.

 

[1930artdeco]

I have one similar to the pictured one. I had to soak it to break the rust free, but hey dad paid $5 for it. I just need to get a handle for it. It does a good job lifting and holding things. did not know it was so old.