What is/was this?

[FourthQuarter]

This thing was yanked out of the scrap metal pile at my local transfer station. I grabbed it for the pulley with the "S" spokes and whatever hardware is salvageable.

It appears to induce air flow; pulling downward through the hole in the center of the cast iron tear-dropped shaped tray. Sorry for not getting a photo of the underside.

Always fascinated by the knowledge base here and figured somebody would know.

Thanks

 

[PCustoms]

Looks like a coal forge, and pretty cool.

This is a modern version:

 

[The Cobbler]

part of a blacksmiths forge for heating steel

 

[The Cobbler]

actually Keith Rucker @ Vintage Machinery. org has a few videos on you tube , restoring a forge

 

[FourthQuarter]

actually Keith Rucker @ Vintage Machinery. org has a few videos on you tube , restoring a forge

Thank you, I'll take a look.

I wouldn't want to tear it up for the pulley if a smithing enthusiast would derive joy from restoring it.

 

[The Cobbler]

here is the latest video on it

 

[cvairwerks]

Shouldn't have any problem turning it for 4-600$.

 

[WisJim]

This kind of forge was commonly used by farmers or non-blacksmith mechanics for small jobs or as a portable forge. Around here it might go for $100 or so if you were lucky. Maybe more if the blower is in good shape with no broken vanes, and all the drive mechanism is present. The blower was often driven by a lever mechanism.

 

[leg17]

Just like today when there are mechanics who wrench for a living, but many others who tinker or repair cars. We might call of them all 'mechanics'.
Back in the day, there were blacksmiths who made a living with their shop in town, brick forge, all the trappings, but also many others who tinker or repair things themselves on the farm. We might call them all 'blacksmiths'.
This portable forge would often end up in the shop at the farm.
Some also served as rivet forges for some steel construction work sites, tho many of those were somewhat heavier duty, yet still portable.

 

[2oolhound]

Thank you, I'll take a look.

I wouldn't want to tear it up for the pulley if a smithing enthusiast would derive joy from restoring it.

Thanks for thinking that way.

As a blacksmith newbie hobbyist I can tell you that would make someone awful happy. Aside from the blower and pulley etc that you can see there is a rotateable tumbler down the hole that allows you to clear the air passage. It prevents the coal from just falling through otherwise. Most of us weekend blacksmiths use propane forges these days but they are generally pretty small and it can be difficult or impossible to heat certain shapes or large items. Around here that would go for aprox. $200 cnd as it looks like it's not all burnt up.

Great score!

 

[bonneyman]

Cool!

 

[Farmer J.]

I made one, a modern version. Just used a big old disc coulter for the tray, welded angle iron legs to it and a tube so as an electric grain fan can blow air up the hole in the centre. It has a bleed off flap to stop the air blast blowing burning coke in to the air, and a grid of rebar to stop clinker falling down the hole.
A proper old one like that would be very nice thing for someone to have for small blacksmith hobby jobs.

 

[Farmer J.]

Just like today when there are mechanics who wrench for a living, but many others who tinker or repair cars. We might call of them all 'mechanics'.
Back in the day, there were blacksmiths who made a living with their shop in town, brick forge, all the trappings, but also many others who tinker or repair things themselves on the farm. We might call them all 'blacksmiths'.
This portable forge would often end up in the shop at the farm.

You MIGHT call them Blacksmiths, but I get called 'That farmer who hit it with a hammer'..

 

[Lassen Forge]

Dude, it's junk... put it in a box and send it to me in Italy, I'll get rid of it for you!!! --lol--

Buffalo built good forges and blowers (you need to turn the handle the other way - it should be pushing air up through the hole in the "pan"), and the blowers are easily rebuildable. Someone really didn't know what they had; probably one of granddads or great granddads tools, daughter in law was cleaning out the shop, said "Ewww, this looks like rusty junk" and threw it out because it had a bent leg (easily replaceable with pipe)

I would have kept combing for Tongs, Hammers, Fullers, and maybe an anvil!

Not only a good save, but a great one, and for free... you ****! Now go buy a bag of Coal (or Coke), get a fire going and learn how to pound white hot steel and bend it to your will! It's a hobby that is extremely satisfying and useful - even today!

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