Unknown blacksmith shop tool

[spandau]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me what this tool is? Its from a picture of my uncle's blacksmith shop.

Thanks,
Steve

[Twilight Fenrir]

Huh... That's an interesting looking thing....

I have no knowledge of it, but looking at it.... I would guess a hand-crank power hammer? Looks like there's a part that moves in some guides on the left side, up and down. That shank on the bottom there makes it look like a hardy tool.... Which, if that's true, would make the anvil terrifyingly huge XD

So... Maybe not the most likely stab in the world... It's just got me pondering, and rambling :P

Is it necessarily related to blacksmithing? Maybe he repaired some portion of something completely unrelated ...

[Lostmind]

No clue , but that is quite the hat on the young fella !

[amecks]

That's what the tool is for ! Pressing hats!

[anglesmith]

With that sort of gearing it has to be a ring roller for bending tires. There were lots of different styles and makers.
Graeme

[lazyassforge]

Steve,

I agree with Graeme, I believe it is a tyre bender for rolling the iron rim to go on a wooden wagon wheel. Here is a link to a similar machine which gives different views of how it works.

http://threeringpuzzle.webs.com/antique.htm


Sorry I could not find an exact match but perhaps someone with better search ability than me can find one!

Hope this helps, Bill D.

[spandau]

Thanks for the inputs. I believe you may be correct that its for wagon wheels. I originally only posted a cropped portion showing the tool but you can see that it makes complete sense when you see the entire picture. This was taken circa 1896. The kid with the hat is my great uncle who passed away in 1960 at age 68. The man shoeing the horse is his father, my great-great uncle.

Regards,
Steve

[turnnut]

yup, sure looks like Graeme & Bill D. nailed this one.

looking at the picture, you can see the small gear on the top left of the big gear.

[Lostmind]

Great photo thanks for sharing.

[1930]

Great photo thanks for sharing.

x2

[Nolatoolguy]

I am always amused with photos of people working back in the day. Really great photo, thanks for sharing.

[JoeCB]

Steve, that's a wonderful photograph. You are fortunate to have it in the family "archive" . So. who is the little guy with the fashionable hat?

Joe B

[Aunt Phil]

Thanks for the inputs. I believe you may be correct that its for wagon wheels. I originally only posted a cropped portion showing the tool but you can see that it makes complete sense when you see the entire picture. This was taken circa 1896. The kid with the hat is my great uncle who passed away in 1960 at age 68. The man shoeing the horse is his father, my great-great uncle.

Regards,
Steve

The kid is wearing a chilld size US Navy peecoat and hat correct to the time the pic was taken.  I have no idea why, but it was culturally popular until World War I to costume kids so.  Perhaps it was made by a talented seamstress from a family member's uniform when they left the Navy.

[JohnD]

I'm guessing a closer look at the other side of the machine would have revealed its function but of course the machine was not the reason for the photo. What I think is more interesting about this thread is how important "context" is to identification of something. If we knew beforehand there was a pile of wheel rims next to the machine the answer might be easier.

[spandau]

Thanks for the inputs. This a later picture of the kid sitting on the barrel. Taken during WWI. He the second from the left in the back row of five guys. He is my great-uncle.

Regards,
Steve