Tool Talk

Classic Power Tools => Classic Power Tools => Topic started by: johnsironsanctuary on September 07, 2011, 01:37:19 PM

Title: Thornado
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on September 07, 2011, 01:37:19 PM

I found this one at an auction. Could not say no. I had to bring it home and see if it works.  It runs fine. I don't have tools for it, so I can't bust concrete yet.

Anyone know how old it is?

http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb373/johnsironsanctuary/Thornado/ (http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb373/johnsironsanctuary/Thornado/)

Title: Re: Thornado
Post by: Fins/413 on September 07, 2011, 04:45:40 PM

I bet you don't need bits to bust concrete just drop it. Very nice.

Title: Re: Thornado
Post by: Branson on September 07, 2011, 07:23:27 PM

Great tool.  But of course, I like Thor stuff.

Title: Re: Thornado
Post by: rusty on September 07, 2011, 08:26:19 PM

This is what you got in 1942.....

(PS: Sorry about the cropped right edge, in book binder)

Title: Re: Thornado
Post by: Papaw on September 07, 2011, 08:52:09 PM

$110 in 1942? WOW! That was more than a week's pay for lots of folks!

Title: Re: Thornado
Post by: rusty on September 07, 2011, 09:13:46 PM

Yea, electric power tools were not cheap in the early 40's,
A 'cheapo'  economy 1/4 electric drill was $20, a good amount of money back then.
But the Electric hammer had the possability of paying for itself, think how long it would take 2 or three guys with star drills and sledgehammers to drill a few holes in a concrete slab, and how long it would take one guy with an electric hammer to do it. Thor also didn't have much competition in this area, the only other hammers listed are Black & Decker's, one cheaper, the other three are even more expensive. Their top if the line model is $195, tho it seems a bit heavier than the Thornado, and you also get a can of oil with it...

I suspect mostly companies and the railroads were buying these things, (the RR's were using them to notch railroad ties)

Title: Re: Thornado
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on September 08, 2011, 09:29:34 AM

Thanks Rusty.
That sure looks like it.

I didn't know that railroads used electric power tools on rail gang crews back then. I see by the label that it will run on DC and it is not real fussy about 60 cycle AC. I suppose if they had a gasoline powered welder, they had DC.