A whatsit from the Carpenter's Toolchest

[johnsironsanctuary]

This is from an 1842 Tool Catalog

[Papaw]

Looks like a jack. WAG!!

[wrenchguy]

sure is.... but what for?

[anglesmith]

Out here they used jacks like that for pushing down (small?) trees! Notice the spikes on the base and the chisel like teeth on the top!
Graeme

[rudeawakening55]

  My guess a Canastoga wagon jack

[wrenchguy]

i would guess to tall for wagons, i suspect for timber framing like warehouses and mills most with 2 stories or more back in the day. i spend alot of time on the east coast and note empty masonry buildings with wood innards. joist and rafter salvage is big bussiness out there. most timbers are heart pine and red fir.

[johnsironsanctuary]

On 495, there is a pin through the rackgear. On 496 the pin is outside of the tooth.
On both units, there is a hook on the side. Is this to bind it to something? Conestogas were very heavy wagons. Those crank handles are too short to lift a heavy load with only a single gear reduction.

[Papaw]

Sellens shows one like the one on the left and calls it a Claw Jack or Timber Jack. The claw jack and the timber jack were listed as having 24-48" screws. A planker jack has a 30-42" screw, and the stone jack has a 36-42" screw.

[Branson]

Knowing the measurements of the devises would be helpful.  At least in principle, it's much the same as a Conestoga wagon jack.  Some of these also had the spikes on the bottom.  At any rate, the technology is late 1700s and early 1800s.  If not earlier.

[johnsironsanctuary]

Sorry, any details and pricing was on the price sheet which has not survived. WYSIWYG.

[Papaw]

Here is a scan of page 250 of Alvin Sellens' Dictionary of Hand Tools-

[johnsironsanctuary]

Sure looks like you nailed it Papaw! Thanks.

[anglesmith]

Claw/ timber jack, that certainly looks like the one! A jack with a 48 inch screw would have been more likely used pushing trees and or stumps than for lifting. Here's a page about a later Australian development the Trewhella monkey jack. http://rescuingthepast.co.uk/trewhella_monkey_jack.html
Graeme

[Branson]

Here is a scan of page 250 of Alvin Sellens' Dictionary of Hand Tools-

You got it!  Thanks for the picture, too!