Plumb collectors

[turnnut]

 I am not a Plumb collector, so I know diddly about them.

 on EB they have listed; vintage Plumb # 2110    it looks like an alligator on one end and a pry ? bar on the other.

 item #;     322153258932

 I think that it was a 10 day listing ???

[Papaw]

Plomb Grease Bar
From Centerpunch on Garage Gazette-

...the grease bar was used to lubricate springs on the cars in the 1930s and 1940s. One end separated the springs for lubing, and the other end moved them back into position.


I've also read that these bars were used on old vintage autos to service the leaf springs. The jaw was used to pry/wiggle leaf springs into and out of the shackles (hangars). The serrated tail was used to pry the leaves apart in order to clean out dirt and put in grease to reduce noise as the springs flexed. The tail could also be used to help pry/wiggle the springs into/out of the hangars. Old cars didn't have the plastic inserts between the leaves and made noise as they got dirt in them. Tool companies made other tools for actually injecting grease between the leaves. I've heard these bars called "Rattlesnake bars" by old mechanics based on their shape.

http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=20311.0

[turnnut]

wow, for spreading leaf springs. back in the early 50's we hammered screwdrivers to pry them apart and then
stuck a thin tire iron between to hold them while we blew air between to get out the grit, then oiled them.

thanks for my daily lesson. 

[stanley62]

I have one hanging on the peg board in the garage.  It is a mean looking thing that I am sure I will never have a use for, but that didn't stop it from following me home.

  Jim