Author Topic: Large wrench need info please  (Read 2945 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline skylab

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 228
Large wrench need info please
« 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.
CONTRIBUTOR
Looking to buy farm implement wrenches.  They can be orphans

Offline rusty

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4345
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #1 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

Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline skylab

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 228
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2011, 08:16:36 PM »
thanks!

I wonder if it was used on airbrakes on trains?  How old you think?
CONTRIBUTOR
Looking to buy farm implement wrenches.  They can be orphans

Offline skipskip

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1509
  • Glenmont NY USA
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #3 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
A place for everything and everything on the floor

Offline rusty

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4345
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #4 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...)
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline bgarrett

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 196
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2011, 07:36:23 AM »
Anyone know anything about this large wrench?

Offline rusty

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4345
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2011, 03:56:51 PM »

Pretty track wrench : )

Nice kite also ; P
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline bgarrett

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 196
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2011, 05:57:25 AM »
Are you saying its a railroad wrench?

Offline Papaw

  • Owner/Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11221
  • Alvin, Texas
    • Papawswrench
Re: Large wrench need info please
« Reply #8 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.
Member of PHARTS - Perfect Handle Admiration, Restoration and Torturing Society
 
 Flickr page- https://www.flickr.com/photos/nhankamer/