IR Model B Impact Info

[nnoble83]

i got this impact at a yard sale a while back with a handful of sockets for a good price. Does anybody have any info on this in particular how old and/or rare it is and how much it may be worth on ebay or in the classifieds here. Thank you.

 

[airbuff101]

I'd just guess yours is early 60's or so as it has the later trigger that looks similar to a current 231.
Here's a pic from a '58 Mac catalog:

I have a '53 Mac catalog and air tools are absent. The hot setup was 1/2" or 5/8" drive Electric Impacts then, of which IR played a large part. Air wrenches started to get popular by late 50's in gas stations/shops and 1/2" took precedence from then on.
Also, the cast aluminum nose on the early guns like yours was later replaced with the common drawn steel nose. In the 70's Mac wanted an exclusive gun from IR. IR brought back that early nose & body casting to make the Mac 234.
If you compare a IR231 to these early guns, the front casting is inverted on the Mac 234 and yours. (2 bolts on bottom and 1 on top.) It allowed a less restricted exhaust and more power (so we were told).
You've got a very powerful, nice old gal there.
Rob

 

[airbuff101]

nnoble,
There's some 'portant twin hammer innards floating around in the box. Spin the anvil and you should hear clack/clack in both directions if it's ok. They would break from time to time so hopefully those are the old parts.
Oil it, plug it in, fire it up.
Should go WOOP!WOOP! if you've got a good compressor.
Rob

 

[nnoble83]

forgot to post originally but it does work, though not as powerful as my earthquake it works as good if not better than i would imagine a 50 year old impact would

 

[Marlin]

That should have a pre-twin hammer impact mechanism. Should be a rocking *********. Twin Hammer was introduced around 1972. Pretty cool.

 

[jtmoran]

Does anyone have a cut sheet on an IR impact wrench Model B Size 4USD.
I'll take any info at all. This is an electric that hits like hell.
Thank you.