Forgotten Collectable ....... AIR TOOLS!

[oldjacks]

I have done a little research here and there and I don't see that there is much interest in vintage air tools. I don't really understand this as air tools are both useful and durable and often can be bought for a song at swapmeets. Most vintage air tools were built to withstand the rigors of daily use and often survive into this century still very serviceable.

Also most vintage tools are American Made and built, at least in my mind, to last a lifetime. Technology has not advanced so far that a 1940's air hammer or drill is not just as efficient working as any new production items.The only exception to this is with impact wrenches which have undergone a revolution in improvement in recent times. Ingersoll Rand, Rockwell, Buckeye, Chicago Pneumatic, Cleveland Pneumatic (Cleco), Dotco, Thor and multiple other names represent the some of the quality manufacturers of the past and some still even until today.

Air tools have been made in almost every imaginable configuration to do specific and more common jobs. They are compact in size for their designated job and also very powerful in relation to their equivalent electric tools. They only downside to them in this day in age in the fact that they are tethered to an air hose. With many of today's tools being battery powered I suppose this could be considered a handicap.

Not for me I will continue to use and collect them as they become available, as not having batteries to recharge or replace and cheap plastic construction, lends them to the status of durable classic collectible. Do you think that any portable battery powered tool will ever become a collectible?

I am going to be posting images as time permits of some of the more unusual tools that I have collected but for now I am posting just this one.

Above is a very early at least teens or twenties Ingersoll Rand "Little David" Air Drill. This drill runs on three pistons rather than using rotary vanes. It has a very unique sound when it runs rather like a car engine than an air tool. Most early air tools were air hammers and drills were rather uncommon.

If anyone else has a vintage air tool please post it to this thread so I can enjoy also what you have.

 

[woody 73]

Man this is darn right spooky but last night I turned down a very old buckeye air drill,that thing looked older then the hills maybe I should go back a pick it up!

 

[oldjacks]

Man this is darn right spooky but last night I turned down a very old buckeye air drill,that thing looked older then the hills maybe I should go back a pick it up!

Buckeye is a QUALITY air tool. If it looks serviceable buy it!!!!!

 

[ujmchris]

If you have the resources to shoot a short video, I'd love to see (and HEAR) that drill in action!

 

[oldjacks]

If you have the resources to shoot a short video, I'd love to see (and HEAR) that drill in action!

I hope to be able to do that soon.

 

[Patrick Boyle]

Wow that's a really nice piece. Looks like it's been to hell and back, glad to see someone has cared enough all these years to keep it running.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I hope to be able to do that soon.

You have a friend who lives near you, I know he would film it in action, JBW

 

[Thumper]

Don't forget about Rodac......they make some good stuff in the day.

 

[oldjacks]

Don't forget about Rodac......they make some good stuff in the day.

Well Rodac and too Astro Tools made some nice air tools and I have some of them in my collection but they are not nearly as old as the era I am covering here.

 

[amolaver]

thanks for sharing - that is a really cool drill! what kind of rpm does it turn? is it adjustable or vary based on trigger pressure? and..how much does it weigh?

ahm

 

[lynam]

Post some more air tools from your collection!

 

[Bull]

I love threads like this; makes me think about something vintage that I otherwise never would have paid any attention to at all.

 

[Damian]

You can find some hidden gems on craigslist from time to time too. I've picked up a few snap on and craftman tools that are 30+ years old from CL for next to nothing because people didn't know what they had. I mainly collect those tools just to have though, I never use them.

 

[poprockcrusher]

old air tools usually don't work

 

[wafrederick]

Rodac is not made anymore,were a POS.My father has a Rodac,a 3/8" butterfly impact which is never used anymore.No one would not stand behind them and went out of buisness

 

[vssjim]

Rodac is not made anymore,were a POS.My father has a Rodac,a 3/8" butterfly impact which is never used anymore.No one would not stand behind them and went out of buisness

There were two Rodac's really the first ones were made in California and were very very well made. Then we the cheap imports showed up they stopped making air tools here and an importer used the Rodac name to sell cheapy tools and ruined the name. I have repaired some of the original US made tools and they were really well made and had high cost components and construction in the tools. They even had spring steel wear plates in an air ratchet air motor end plated instead of chrome plated aluminum bearing carriers like the **** have.

 

[oldjacks]

old air tools usually don't work

I have to tell you I have seen buckets of crappy air tools and invariably they are imports and not the older high quality US made ones. Out of the many many air tools I have bought only a couple ever were DOA. The biggest problem I have encountered are air leaks which don't normally interfere with the operation of the tool as they just make annoying hissing noises.

After awhile you develop a sixth sense about what will work and what won't work. Even really beat up tools will usually be OK as long as they turn over and you can hear the mechanism making what I call air tool noises.

 

[oldjacks]

There were two Rodac's really the first ones were made in California and were very very well made. Then we the cheap imports showed up they stopped making air tools here and an importer used the Rodac name to sell cheapy tools and ruined the name. I have repaired some of the original US made tools and they were really well made and had high cost components and construction in the tools. They even had spring steel wear plates in an air ratchet air motor end plated instead of chrome plated aluminum bearing carriers like the **** have.

This is basically what I also understand about Astro Air Tools that they started here in California and then eventually went overseas. I have owned a few of the USA made ones an indeed they are a quality tool.

 

[Packard V8]

Good old air tools are the most difficult of all tool finds. They were exclusively an industrial and commercial tool. Next to no home shops had enough air to use them. The result is they were worn beyond rebuilding and then junked. Can't remember the last time I found a really old usable air tool. Your results may vary.

Second problem is older air tools, being built to survive industrial use, are heavier than the hubs of hell. They typically weigh twice what the same capacity tool would weigh today.

I'll watch for them more closely in the future, but don't expect to find loads of them.

jack vines

jack vines

 

[airbuff101]

Rodac-Rodney's Action Tools.

just ancient useless tool trivia constantly richocheting around in my mind......

i think that was right.
Rob

 

[kc-steve]

I like your idea Oldjacks, especially collecting some of the older American built tools. I thought about doing it myself after finally getting an air compressor in my garage.

However, I learned during my compressor set up that improper filtering, moisture removal and lack of proper lubrication can and will destroy any brand of air tools more quickly over time. ESPECIALLY the lack of moisture removal.

So that got me thinking, should I trust whether someone else has done everything possible to properly maintain their tools? Nope.

So I dropped that idea.

Steve

 

[woody 73]

I realize that the op loves the old air tools,but over time I run out of space and money. Some say go after old vises,old jacks,old air tools,old car tools,then before you know it I start to look like one of those people on the tv show Hoarders!

 

[kc-steve]

I realize that the op loves the old air tools,but over time I run out of space and money. Some say go after old vises,old jacks,old air tools,old car tools,then before you know it I start to look like one of those people on the tv show Hoarders!

He-he, yeah that's where I'm at. Look for me on Hoarders or American Pickers. My close friends have already given me a hard time about that.

In fact, a couple of years ago I was thinking about building a pole barn on some property to move out some stuff just so I can park my cars in the double garage. But now, I bet pole barn builders are having a hard time getting customers.

Steve

 

[Thumper]

Rodac is not made anymore,were a POS.My father has a Rodac,a 3/8" butterfly impact which is never used anymore.No one would not stand behind them and went out of buisness

Well.....I got the good old USA made stuff that lasted and worked like it was suppossed to.......just like CP used to be in the old days.

 

[oldjacks]

I like your idea Oldjacks, especially collecting some of the older American built tools. I thought about doing it myself after finally getting an air compressor in my garage.

However, I learned during my compressor set up that improper filtering, moisture removal and lack of proper lubrication can and will destroy any brand of air tools more quickly over time. ESPECIALLY the lack of moisture removal.

So that got me thinking, should I trust whether someone else has done everything possible to properly maintain their tools? Nope.

So I dropped that idea.

Steve

I think you are just making up reasons for not buying as vintage USA Air Tools are almost indestructible. Yes, you can be sure that most if not all vintage tools were not maintained very well but I think that factor is taken into consideration during manufacturing and is an expected outcome with use. Even if water is a factor in your lines, at the end of the day you squirt some air tool oil in the inlet and run the tool for a few seconds and you are set that's all you have to do for maintenance.

There is also water removal systems available for your compressor that greatly reduces that problem and which are not all that expensive to buy.

 

[4x4gearhead]

That air drill is just plain bad ***.

 

[jabberwoki]

I have a couple of older air drills i love the stying of them and i`ll buy more if they come up.

 

[DonkDonk]

I MUST SEE A VIDEO OF THIS TOOL IN ACTION!!!!!

 

[yknottwood]

I have one of these tools I just listed on ebay. Its a pnuematic chipping hammer I think. Its in perfect working condition. I cant find any information on these old little Davids anywere on the web? my listing is #190977204716 up for bid and ends 11-30-13

 

[yknottwood]

Re: Forgotten Collectable ....... AIR TOOLS! Little David

I will share this one with you. Its old and rare because I cant find no other? Im really not sure what this was used for. Its basically a pnumatic chipping hammer with a rolling base with guide wheels. I currantly have this listed on ebay item # 190977204716 and it end November 30th 2013 aprox 3pm.

This is in perfect working condition, besides the tip of the operating trigger has broken off. but still operable.

Thought I would share

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Some say go after old vises,old jacks,old air tools,old car tools,then before you know it I start to look like one of those people on the tv show Hoarders!

Their are a few things that you cannot "Hoard." Tools, women, and booze cannot be hoarded...They are only collected.You can never have too much..You will never be on the show...

 

[relic7680]

Their are a few things that you cannot "Hoard." Tools, women, and booze cannot be hoarded...They are only collected.You can never have too much..You will never be on the show...

Truer words have not been spoken....

 

[dfoggtv]

I recently found a Chicago Pneumatic Little giant #4 drill ( about 1900)

 

[PSCo1867]

This is a 4 cyl piston Cleveland Pneumatic air drill. It was buried under a work-bench at work when I dug it out maybe 10 years ago. I found a rod-cap had come loose, so I gather the thing crapped out God knows how many decades ago and they didn't bother to see what was wrong.

I wish I had taken a pic of it the way I found it. It was a crusty mess. The crank is still locked up in it, and I'm still trying to figure how to remove it. This thing is as much a work of art as it (I guess) was functional. Sadly, the chuck is missing, but I will make something work. I can find absolutely zero information on this drill.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

4 piston air drill LMAO.

Looks like a mighty beast.

 

[Marlin]

Above is a very early at least teens or twenties Ingersoll Rand "Little David" Air Drill. This drill runs on three pistons rather than using rotary vanes. It has a very unique sound when it runs rather like a car engine than an air tool. Most early air tools were air hammers and drills were rather uncommon.

If anyone else has a vintage air tool please post it to this thread so I can enjoy also what you have.

I have the original drawing of an offspring of Little David which was one of the first impact wrenches made by IR in the 1930's. The drawing was done on linen obviously by hand and is an incredible representation of the drawing skills from long ago. I need to get it framed. We just moved but if I find which box it is in I'll post a pic.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Oldjacks great thread
Never seen anything like your Little David drill. A pneumatic tool that is 100+ years old and functioning is amazing.
Add me to the list that wants to see and hear this baby in action.
Your shoes are bad *** as well!

 

[davethorik]

Oldjacks great thread
Never seen anything like your Little David drill. A pneumatic tool that is 100+ years old and functioning is amazing.
Add me to the list that wants to see and hear this baby in action.
Your shoes are bad *** as well!

He hasn't been online in almost 4 years. Maybe he will get an email notification?

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

He hasn't been online in almost 4 years. Maybe he will get an email notification?

Missed that but still found it interesting

 

[richfinn]

I still have an old Desoutter impact wrench kicking about that my Dad gave me when I was an Apprentice.

Never really gave it much thought but I guess it must be French built??

Well it turns out they are British/French and have an interesting
Backstory (like most old tool companies)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desoutter_Tools