Alan Evans Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Benprothero has sent me some images my old non-traverse Blacker Hammer referred to in the Blacker Power Hammer Questions thread. You can see the thicker hammer shafts than normal. Whether they are original and this is just an early model I do not know. The machining was slightly different from one another I seem to remember, as though one had been made as a replacement. Maybe they both were replaced/manufactured given the difference from the usual boss and thinner shaft on the other Blackers I have seen. The hardy hole bottom block is on the machine and the plain bottom pallet is down below the motor on the wooden pallet. When I was running it 30 odd years ago it had an old flat belt drive with a 75mm (3") wide leather belt which had a metal hinge/staple joiner system and when idling you just heard the hum of the motor and the tick tick tick of the joiner hitting the pulleys. The back lash in the bronze worm drive and quadrant which altered the hammer blow weight had to be carefully taken out otherwise the dreaded blacker nod would happen. The head would carry on moving after you had taken your foot off the treadle. The trick was to catch the hammer head and push it up to take the pressure off the follower. I mentioned in the other thread that the first blow was always likely to be harder then the subsequent ones, but that once it was cycling the blows were much more regular then an air hammer and it would feather beautifully. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 H & T had a nice one of these when I visited him in Lincolnshire, a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Evans Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 Are you saying that mine isn't nice? :) Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Alan That is a nice hammer. First of that style Blacker I have ever seen. Does many of that style exist in England? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Evans Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 To be honest I don't know. I have only seen a few, probably less than half a dozen C type over the years. I have only seen one of the early A type treadle versions, probably more than a score of the B type traversing ones which I always assumed were the most popular. I think quite a lot of people like me could not bring themselves to get rid of them when they upgraded to Air Hammers, and there are a few covered in dust in the corner of a few shops that I have seen! I guess we all tend to be squirrels by nature! Some people swear by them, though most probably swear at them! We have two main mechanical hammers over here as you probably know, our equivalent to your Little Giant is called the Goliath (35lb?) and its big brother the Hercules (60lb?) . And I think that people seemed to be either Blacker or Goliath oriented. The most reliable source to get an idea of numbers, would be the Nevile Barnes Co. who took over the licence and have been supplying parts (and new machines I think) for the last 50 years or so. When my friend rebuilt mine over 25 years ago he had a new Main Pivot Shaft from Neville Barnes (I believe Neville was still alive and running the business then), part of the deal was that Neville lent him a drill and reamer to enlarge and true up the side plate bearing journals to suit the new oversize shaft. When he had done the job he sent them back…nice old school customer service! Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Are you saying that mine isn't nice? :) Alan[/quoteYours is probably the nicest and best ever!(he said while gently patting him on his head) :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Someday I will get over the pond again a visit some of the smiths there and see some of these cool hammers(and cool people). I have been to England three times, although the last trip was my honeymoon 27 years ago. Maybe I will get to one of the blacksmithing festivals. Please keep us Yanks informed when the major happenings are. Thanks for the information on the hammers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Josh, the last trip 27 years ago? Some things will have changed a bit :) Alan alone is worth the trip ( he has some odd parrots as neighbors though) as for other blacksmiths in the UK all I can say is they are just as pleasant, hospitable, helpful and friendly as those your side of the pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOONY Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 hi to all i had a Goliath samual platt it was a great hammer i used it for many a year idid some heavy work under it i then install a demore 4cwt an after a long time on service i sold it too a up an coming metal worker moony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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