Finally brought home some more old iron...

[Filson]

My old iron fever has really had to take a back seat sense moving across state. There just isn't much out here (for sale, anyway). It's been awhile, so I decided to swing in a local second-hand/antique shop to browse their tool selection, and I ended up finding and bringing home some heavy iron.

I picked up the 15 Ton Simplex train jack and the 2 ton Blue Boys (I think that was the spelling) differential pulley first, and ended up swinging back through the area later on and decided to grab the small red screw jack, the 7 ton hook, and two old, large pliers that didn't make it in the picture (a Plomb and... don't remember the second one for sure, Fulton I believe).

The big jack has two possible lift points it seems, the top, and another way down low, just behind the top of the red jack. Patent date says Sept. 1916 if memory serves correct. After looking it over fairly well, though not necessarily knowing what to look for, the only issue I see is the beginning of a crack in the top part of the iron where it says "SIMPLEX". The crack is about an inch or so long, from the opening, going towards the X in Simplex.

Pulley took some penetrating oil and a bit of going back and forth on the chain to get everything loosened up a bit, but is working well and is hanging up in the shop now.

Anyway, I know very little about jacks and pulley stuff, and would love any info anyone can shed on these.

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[jakemac]

I have the 25ton version of that jack. It weighs 100lbs. I also have some of the newer aluminum body 15ton versions. I've used them for lifting houses to replace sills, to put my cousin's camp on rollers to move it back 20' from the road, and for leveling out the mobile home I use as a camp. They make life so much easier.

HOWEVER !!!!!!
They are potential widow-makers.
Make sure that all the parts are working well and are lubricated.
Make sure that the teeth on the pawls fully engage the lift shaft. Each stroke.
Always make sure that it's in a plumb position when lifting, so it doesn't roll out.
And ALWAYS review how to lift and lower it correctly each time you use it before putting a load on it.

One mistake can drop the whole load straight down on you if you aren't careful. Lost fingers are also a hazard.

Other than impending death and doom, I LOVE them.

 

[Filson]

Jake,

You know how to make someone feel confident, bro haha.

Honestly, I pulled the little side plate off, and watched the internals during operation, and everything "feels" and looks crisp and smooth. I looked at the teeth on the... ram part, whatever it's called, and it looks to be in extremely good condition.

Anyway... I'll definitely use caution whenever I use it, I appreciate the heads up!

Any idea what it's worth?

 

[tiggi]

What's the history on that can of Coca Cola? Looks like its in pretty good condition.

 

[Filson]

What's the history on that can of Coca Cola? Looks like its in pretty good condition.

Aye, it be an epic saga, thee can of cola, indeed. One tale that will need to wait for the 'morrow.

 

[ViseSquad]

Those are great jacks. Lucky enough to have scored an aluminum bodied one for $20 at a garage sale. They make over $400. on eBay regularly. The low foot gets under almost anything the way no hydraulic jack can.