Memphis, NY barn sale

[amecks]

The guys that do clean-outs had their first sale of the year.  It was cold but tolerable for the 45 minutes or so.  First photo on top is a tungsten carbide hacksaw blade.  Fish bottle opener I hope to sell at work (I'm working in a boat service center).  Unused hex drive wire brush. Small flat wrench on left is E.C. Stearns bicycle spanner/spoke wrench (a keeper).  Flat spanner below that is stamped 11858-DA.  Lawson pipe wrench patent date Dec 14 1920.  S-K screwdriver.   Large pliers look like a sheet metal notcher? For duct work? - there's something stamped but not readable - will try to clean it up later.  Early Snap-On 57R pliers with single row Vacuum Grip.  Snap-On TK30 ignition points adjustment tool.  Blue Point G.A. 119B door or window handle tool?  Snap-On driver ground to a point.  And last - Duro-Chrome 4491 - this a refrigeration tool, right?  It's nice - and has 3 square drives besides the ratchet, and a hex drive 9/16.  Regardless of stickers, average cost less than $1 each.
**Update - The big "notcher" is made by F.S. Burch & Co. Chicago,Ill. and it cuts really well through aluminum foil pans as well as aluminum cat food cans and an even  thicker piece of aluminum floor trim.  Not tried it on tin or steel sheet yet.

[lptools]

Hey, Al. Good score!!  Do you think the notcher is sharp enough to cut sheet metal? If not, it may be a crimper, stovepipe, or gutter downspouts. Take care, Lou

[amecks]

Hi Lou!  I believe it will cut sheet metal as in steel ductwork.  I tried to find something steel in the garage but was in a hurry and only found aluminum scrap to try it on.  Definitely meant to cut not crimp.  I saw on ebay there was a Burch hole punch tool that was being called a leather punch.  But this tool seems to be much sturdier than needed for leather.  The upper jaw has brazing on it - either it was built up to repair wear or (less likely) it has a hardened cutter brazed in place.  There's a metal "gauge?" , about 1/16" thick, riveted to one handle but it is unfortunately broken off to 1/2".

[lptools]

Nice!! I thought about heading out to the barn today, maybe next time!!

[john k]

Nice stuff there.  My farm background says the V notcher is just like the notcher used to notch ears on hogs, as a means of identification or ownership.  Notching ears on pigs was just as messy as you can imagine.  Would say you are spot on with the ID of the rest.

[amecks]

Is it okay if I pretend it's a sheet metal notcher?  I plan to keep it for a while at least to see if it comes in useful.

The patent for the Lawson pipe wrench shows a lever type spring in the original as well as the renewed patent.  The notes on the renewed patent mention seeing some wrenches with a hole in the handle for a spring with a "pad".  I fitted a spring and a 1/4" ball bearing and it seems to work well.

I've been wanting a better 1/4" drive ratchet and when I got this nice Duro-Chrome refrig tool, I thought I might do something with it.  I cut off a brand X extension, chucked it into the lathe and left a small ring above the drive end.  Then to the vise with a file, squaring it off til it slipped into the ratchet.  Then back to the lathe to get a well-centered hole and drill/tap for a 8-32 screw.  I found this neat low profile screw that appears to be stainless steel.  I disassembled the ratchet (some meathead used red loctite on the screws!) and lubricated it.  Assembled the screws with a touch of blue loctite.

[Yadda]

Wow! Nice work!

[lptools]

Nice job!!

[Bill Houghton]

VERY nice!

[Northwoods]

Slick!

[whiteoton]

I would love to see these tools in action! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to repair anything for several years due to a hand injury, but I'm content with watching someone else's work. I watched the work of the guys who came to do soffit and fascia for me. If I was still "in business" I would never buy instruments like theirs because they look incredibly expensive. I love old live instruments that have history and soul.