The vintage Blackhawk Thread

[Private Lugnutz]

Maybe he's on the east coast. So we can have PG West and PG East.

 

[joshotto94]

Thanks Don Long, i am pretty new but i really enjoy doing all this. I have so much to restore for my personal collection, it will all come with time.

 

[joshotto94]

When I first looked I actually thought it was the legendary party garage and that this new fella was a side kick of Don's. lol

I think he has the attention of all of us, not just Don. I also see that he has a nice set of Alemites just like mine.

Alemite is pretty much what got me started and i have picked up so much along the way.

 

[thehorse13]

Alemite is pretty much what got me started and i have picked up so much along the way.

You're fortunate to still turn up Alemite stuff. It's now part of the desirable garage decor for high dollar car collectors. I've been searching for a center section for my Alemite merchandiser for years without success. If you poke around this site you will stumble over the ups and downs of sourcing my Alemite stuff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

If you poke around this site you will stumble over the ups and downs of sourcing my Alemite stuff.

One of these days you have to turn that corner-of-your-shop time capsule now occupying your avatar into a whole thread, Sonny. Pre-subscribed!

 

[thehorse13]

One of these days you have to turn that corner-of-your-shop time capsule now occupying your avatar into a whole thread, Sonny. Pre-subscribed!

I will have to do that in the spring. If you saw it now you'd die. Tons of pre Christmas madness going on. lol

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I can wait.

 

[joshotto94]

You're fortunate to still turn up Alemite stuff. It's now part of the desirable garage decor for high dollar car collectors. I've been searching for a center section for my Alemite merchandiser for years without success. If you poke around this site you will stumble over the ups and downs of sourcing my Alemite stuff.

Are you looking for the center bench or the upper center section? I made the full center bench and restored this one last year for someone. Also do you have a windowed unit or a non windowed unit? I know where a non windowed bench is for sale right now.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Finally found a speeder for my early 3/8 set. This H box has been slow to fill.

 

[Old Radar]

Looks great!

 

[thehorse13]

Are you looking for the center bench or the upper center section? I made the full center bench and restored this one last year for someone. Also do you have a windowed unit or a non windowed unit? I know where a non windowed bench is for sale right now.

Non windowed center section is the final piece that I need. I've resigned myself to the fact that I may need to fabricate my own but I'm not ready to give up looking for an original piece.

Finding complete benches is still reasonably achievable. It's finding the single piece that I need that's kicking me square in the pants. I'm hoping that the world goes back to normal this spring and then I will head to Hershey to see if I can turn one up.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks oldradar. Its a little speeder. Here it is with the 1/2 version for scale.

 

[joshotto94]

New Jack I picked up today

 

[thehorse13]

Nice. Those pop up from time to time around here, typically in the 100 dollar range.

 

[shiber]

Thats a cool s-4 jack. I have one that I'm currently restoring. Mine was missing most of the stuff that made the light work. I just got done making everything to make the light work. now I am working on sand blasting and repaint. I'm exited to see what it looks like when its done

 

[Tarnished]

Josh, did you nab my jack??

Great little jack, but not sure I like the handle on this one as well as the other BH jacks. Compact??? Maybe?

 

[don long]

Nice collection of blackhawks Tarnished

 

[joshotto94]

Josh, did you nab my jack??

Great little jack, but not sure I like the handle on this one as well as the other BH jacks. Compact??? Maybe?

Nice collection i dont think it was ours i did get it in north east ohio though.

 

[Schurkey]

Years ago, my local Mac Tools dealer was selling Blackhawk as the "budget tools" line.

This was long before Mac was pushing the "Expert" line of "budget" tools. Perhaps late '80s, early '90s.

I don't remember if Blackhawk was in the Mac catalog, or if this was just something my dealer dreamed-up.

 

[thehorse13]

Years ago, my local Mac Tools dealer was selling Blackhawk as the "budget tools" line.

This was long before Mac was pushing the "Expert" line of "budget" tools. Perhaps late '80s, early '90s.

I don't remember if Blackhawk was in the Mac catalog, or if this was just something my dealer dreamed-up.

Most Blackhawk purists would argue that the high quality tools died in 1955 when New Britain acquired the brand and removed the artistic soul. The modern Blackhawk stuff isn't in the same universe as the pre 1955 stuff so it's no surprise that your MAC dealer was selling what I assume was 1970s/1980s Litton or National Hand Tool branded Blackhawk stuff as economy garbage.

 

[shiber]

This is my first time posting a project on here. I wanted to show the Blackhawk S4 restoration in progress. I'm trying to make a functional jack that I'm not afraid to use but still do a nice job with the restoration. Now I am focusing on the light that is on it. It was missing most of the parts for the light all I had to work with was the cast housing on top of the hydraulic pump that holds the lamp and the handle where I assumed the batteries and the switch would go. The pictures are on my test bench so I could see if everything would work before I finish paint and final assembly. Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you think.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Very nice work! I've got an S4 that's missing what yours was as well so I'm highly interested in where you sourced your parts, particularly that lens!!! I'm looking forward to seeing your jack once you're done with it. Please post pics when it's complete.

 

[don long]

Very nice set up. I too have a blackhawk jack needing the guts to make the light work. I can make things look good but struggle to get things to work.
Thanks for showing your progress. I too want to see the jack when you finish it.



Don

 

[shiber]

JoCoSawdust and Don Long Thanks for the comments! As far as the parts go I bought the Led from the auto parts store,and I used a switch off a flashlight. Everything else I made to fit, I dont know what the original parts looked like so I did what I could to make it look nice and fit well. The lens was machined out of polycarbonate bar stock. I did make a few extra complete sets if anyone is interested. send a message

 

[thehorse13]

Most guys don't bother with fixing the light on the S4 jacks. I'm glad to see this task tackled here for the first time. Nice work so far but I'd also like to mention that your workbench looks great too. I'd love to have that thing!

 

[Old Griz]

JoCoSawdust and Don Long Thanks for the comments! As far as the parts go I bought the Led from the auto parts store,and I used a switch off a flashlight. Everything else I made to fit, I dont know what the original parts looked like so I did what I could to make it look nice and fit well. The lens was machined out of polycarbonate bar stock. I did make a few extra complete sets if anyone is interested. send a message

Very nice shiber! I'm interested in one of the sets. I can't message you since I'm still working on my first 10 posts. Please get in touch with me. I have 5 or 6 Blackhawks that I am starting to restore. I'm planning to post some pics soon.

I'm looking for a cover with badge and light for an S-13 if anyone has a spare they can part with.

 

[930dreamer]

I have (5) S4's so I'd be interested also.

 

[Old Griz]

Check out these SJ18's if anyone needs keys let me know. Thank you

joshotto94 I think I bought one of those keys from you. Works great in all my jacks. Thanks

 

[leg17]

Saw this on a private Facebook group: Antique Tools: Buy, Sell, and Trade

 

[Shelbylex]

Leg17, how much?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Awesome. A guy on the Garage Sale thread snagged one a couple years ago. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[thehorse13]

Leg17, how much?

Given that this one is missing the Blackhawk advertising that belongs on top, and overall condition, I bet he still gets a few 100 dollar bills for it. I wonder what the inside looks like.

It's a 1930ish model 2N cabinet display. If I was closer to him I'd have a hard time not buying it.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you. I hope somebody from GJ will get it and we will see it restored

 

[joshotto94]

Awesome glad to hear the key is working great for you thank you @old griz

 

[JjKk40]

Found this burried in my Dads toolbox while going though it trying to save what I can. A lot of his stuff got trashed in hurricane Sandy. Thank God this was spared.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Found this burried in my Dads toolbox while going though it trying to save what I can. A lot of his stuff got trashed in hurricane Sandy. Thank God this was spared.

That's pretty cool....Are you on Long Island? Sandy definitely took it's toll on NY.

 

[JjKk40]

@ nybodyman... yes I'm out on LI. Such a shame what Sandy did. Im so close to the bay and surrounded by canals on 3 sides so its always flooding but hurricanes and Nor'Easters its excessive. The salt water ruined a lot! On another note have you seen the sweet 3/4" socket set for sale on CL in Conn? Guy is looking for $450. I was thinking about grabbing g it but can't make the drive right now!

 

[NYBODYMAN]

@ nybodyman... yes I'm out on LI. Such a shame what Sandy did. Im so close to the bay and surrounded by canals on 3 sides so its always flooding but hurricanes and Nor'Easters its excessive. The salt water ruined a lot! On another note have you seen the sweet 3/4" socket set for sale on CL in Conn? Guy is looking for $450. I was thinking about grabbing g it but can't make the drive right now!

I live in Orange County but lived in Nassau County as a kid for a bit. I was sent to LI the night of the hurricane for work (LEO) and was there for 9 days working 16 hour tours. I spent most of my time patrolling the Sunrise HWY the first night then was posted in Oceanside for the remainder of the weeks. The Oceanside Fire Department were lifesavers for us as we were on our own for food/drinks, gasoline, bathrooms, and a place to take a rest. I have a ton of pictures from my time there and it was unbelievable what happened in one night.

I didn't see the set on CL. What brand is it? I have no use for a 3/4" set. There's a few for sale by me but I don't need it.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It looks like a proto set

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a pic