My vintage step ladder

[cowboy73]

I was outside taking down the Christmas lights off the porch and I was using this old step ladder. I think it's pretty cool and sturdy for as old as it is. They don't make them like this anymore!

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Very sturdy hinges. Look at how they wrap around the top step.
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It even has square nuts on the rods supporting the steps.

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The large washers on the sides.
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Anybody know who made it or how old it is?

 

[carterbeauford]

hex nuts first came into use in the 1880s, square nuts stuck around until the 1890s so it's definitely pre 1900.

 

[rick carpenter]

You may want to consider this. Doesn't look like you can take it apart without destroying it, so remove the rust as best as possible and keep attending to that over time. Use wood preservative on it; perhaps even setting the feet into containers full of preservative to fully soak them. You'll have a good little user for a long while. When it gets unsafe, it'll make a great plant stand.

 

[Outlawmws]

hex nuts first came into use in the 1880s, square nuts stuck around until the 1890s so it's definitely pre 1900.

How do you figure that? Just because hex became popular does not mean they stopped using square for a lot of things. Heck, you can still buy square nuts today...

I'd guess maybe 1940's to 1950's based on other characteristics of the ladder.

 

[brickG-man]

Sorry, I love old tools as much as anyone, and probably more than most but ladders are the exception. There appears to be a fair amount of split wood on the ladder. I would toss it out and get a new one. Preferably fiberglass. On the jobsite, when someone discovers a bad ladder, scaffold or scaffold plank we usually crush it so nobody will try to use it and then throw it away.

 

[jpickar]

That is a 50's or 60's ladder. I used some well used ones like that when I first started my electrician apprenticeship. Electricians use the 3 legged ladders a lot.

John

 

[gmm213]

Itd be cool to clean up the rust real nice and replace the wood

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Itd be cool to clean up the rust real nice and replace the wood

Absolutely! Do not toss, but disassemble, remove rust and paint metal, and copy the wood from new lumber. That'd be a kick *** restore!

 

[andywander]

That is a 50's or 60's ladder. I used some well used ones like that when I first started my electrician apprenticeship. Electricians use the 3 legged ladders a lot.

John

"3-legged ladders"?

 

[str8axle55]

Looks like it does have a fair amount of split wood. If it feels safe keep using it, otherwise it`d be a cool resto project.

 

[Zeke]

"3-legged ladders"?

Just like a fruit picking ladder. Great for uneven surfaces. I don't think OSHA likes them much.

 

[Outlawmws]

It's a 4 ft ladder guys...

The splits are insignificant and easily repaired in place. Get some bleach inside the crack and then let it dry well; inject some good wood glue; then clamp. All in place.

Then maybe clean and paint the metal fittings and leave it alone mostly...

Replace the wood? It looses almost all it's cool factor then.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's probably worth more as a rustic or primitive antique than as a tool...that sort of stuff is pretty hot these days with decorators.

 

[brickG-man]

It's a 4 ft ladder guys...

The splits are insignificant and easily repaired in place.

I have worked with 3 different Tradesmen that fell 6 feet or less, shattered their heel (or both heels) and ended their career. Cracked wood on a ladder isn't insignificant in my opinion.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have worked with 3 different Tradesmen that fell 6 feet or less, shattered their heel (or both heels) and ended their career. Cracked wood on a ladder isn't insignificant in my opinion.

Left alone, I don't disagree, but don't take my comments out of context: What it would take to repair it to as good or better than original is not difficult or dangerous in the long run.

 

[frankush]

I wouldn't use it. I can appreciate the hardware, but that's as far as it goes. It looks like it sat outside for 20 of those years. I've seen both wood and fiberglass ladders break in use.

 

[SteveL]

Although it looks cool, I would not use it much. I lost half of my right pinky finger thanks to an old crappy ladder. Learned my lesson the hard way. Be safe and hang the cool old stuff on the wall to look at.

 

[carterbeauford]

How do you figure that? Just because hex became popular does not mean they stopped using square for a lot of things. Heck, you can still buy square nuts today...

definitely was the wrong word, I have never worked on anything with square nuts post 1900.

 

[Givl Reggin]

They make an epoxy that's very thin and soaks into the wood and preserves it -- http://www.rotdoctor.com/
I have used it myself on some old wood handled farm implements and it doesn't change the look of the wood at all.

 

[sawbuck]

definitely was the wrong word, I have never worked on anything with square nuts post 1900.

Henry Ford used them at least into the 30s...