Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: skylab on September 24, 2011, 06:49:04 PM

Title: Large wrench need info please
Post by: skylab on September 24, 2011, 06:49:04 PM
I never seen this symbol.  Anyone have any ideas?  Was bought from someone cleaning out a shop that repaired old tractors.
Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: rusty on September 24, 2011, 07:37:44 PM
It is a westinghouse Airbrake wrench. It is supposed to be a W half overprinted on an A , but I don't know how anyone was supposed to guess that  ;P

Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: skylab on September 24, 2011, 08:16:36 PM
thanks!

I wonder if it was used on airbrakes on trains?  How old you think?
Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: skipskip on September 24, 2011, 08:39:10 PM
The railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869.


so its no older than that.

likely from the 1900-1930's.

Skip
Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: rusty on September 24, 2011, 10:16:41 PM

The number on the wrench isn't in my book, so it's probably towards the latter end of the date range , also the T prefix puts it after 1913 or so at least (I don't have good data on when the prefix started). I would think possibly as far as 40's myself, but not much later than that as it looks to be a carbon steel wrench.

>I wonder if it was used on airbrakes on trains?

Given it's size and pattern, I would guess it's a compressor head or cylinder wrench. (The compressor supplied the air for the brake system, so there was one in each locomotive). Westinghouse however also sold the air compressors to others as general purpose machines and supplied a set of wrenches with them.
(However, I suspect far more were sold to railroads than industry...)
Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: bgarrett on September 29, 2011, 07:36:23 AM
Anyone know anything about this large wrench?
Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: rusty on September 29, 2011, 03:56:51 PM

Pretty track wrench : )

Nice kite also ; P
Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: bgarrett on September 30, 2011, 05:57:25 AM
Are you saying its a railroad wrench?
Title: Re: Large wrench need info please
Post by: Papaw on September 30, 2011, 07:23:34 AM
I believe it is, but without seeing the sizes and any marks, it is just a good guess.