rawtiron Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Had a great day with my new friend from Alaska, who contacted me through IFI some months ago about a visit to NZ. I took him out to The Tokomaru Steam Museum http://www.tokomarusteam.com/ for a look at a fully operational steam set up. Here's some pics of a couple of steam hammers and a big old Massey (10 hundredweight I'm told). I'd love to get some more info on these hammers, for the owners please. Thanks for looking, Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawtiron Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesrjohnson Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 John Nicholson will be able to give some information on the Massey hammer. John's father worked for Massey in Manchester England until they went out of business. John then bought the rights to Massey, the drawings, etc. and has made a nice business out of rebuilding them. If I remember right, they started around the 1860's and sold hammers all around the world. Many of these hammers are still running today. I had the opportunity to visit John and his father in the old Massey factory in England and one of the more interesting things was the room where they stored the old mechanical drawings. They had the original ink drawings of all of the hammers produced... and many of them went back to the 1800's. John is active on this forum and am sure that he can add a lot more to this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 There's still a lotta pleasure livin in them thar hammers! That place must just ooze with old energy! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawtiron Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 John Nicholson will be able to give some information on the Massey hammer. John's father worked for Massey in Manchester England until they went out of business. John then bought the rights to Massey, the drawings, etc. and has made a nice business out of rebuilding them. If I remember right, they started around the 1860's and sold hammers all around the world. Many of these hammers are still running today. I had the opportunity to visit John and his father in the old Massey factory in England and one of the more interesting things was the room where they stored the old mechanical drawings. They had the original ink drawings of all of the hammers produced... and many of them went back to the 1800's. John is active on this forum and am sure that he can add a lot more to this thread. Thanks James. I had thought that JohnN would be able to let me know about the Massey. I was looking at the pics from your visit there, yesterday. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawtiron Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 There's still a lotta pleasure livin in them thar hammers! That place must just ooze with old energy! Ian It's great to see so much old working machinery in one place like this. They are in there 41st year of operation. I grew up near by and got my first ever job here cleaning the brass plaques and helping out with the steam train they run. Colin was trained as a blacksmith and farrier, under his father and went on to become an engineer. He is very experienced at working the machinery he has (except that big old Massey) which is a recent purchase. The press brake came from the Luftwaffe factory in Germany after the war. Note the bullet holes/divets in it. The brand name on the next machine should be familiar with some you. They are still operating today from what I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonjic Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 That massey is one weird ass looking thing, never seen one like it. It looks like a 'clear space' but with the ram from a 'Rigby' hammer in it. Ill have my first guess that its a special 'long stroke' self contained hammer. (the serial number is an oddball aswell..) I will look it up from the serial number next week, then all its secrets will be revealed :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Hi Jason, Thanks for all those pics. I wish I owned those machines! Did you get to see Frosty's place while you were in Alaska? I recon his place has gotta be worth a good decco. Despite of the risk of 'harmfull trees' and dangerous looking slippers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawtiron Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 That massey is one weird ass looking thing, never seen one like it. It looks like a 'clear space' but with the ram from a 'Rigby' hammer in it. Ill have my first guess that its a special 'long stroke' self contained hammer. (the serial number is an oddball aswell..) I will look it up from the serial number next week, then all its secrets will be revealed Thank you John. All I know is that came from the railways. (NZR). They say it weighs 11 ton, with a 5 ton anvil and is 17ft high. And that there were ones twice that size used here also. We will be visiting the previous owner this week, so I'll see what else I can find out. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawtiron Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 Hi Jason, Thanks for all those pics. I wish I owned those machines! Did you get to see Frosty's place while you were in Alaska? I recon his place has gotta be worth a good decco. Despite of the risk of 'harmfull trees' and dangerous looking slippers Ian Hi Ian, It was a visit by another member to NZ (my place) from Alaska. I'd love to get over to Alaska some day to check out Frostys shop and Frosty himself. It all sounds very interesting! Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myloh67 Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 On a different note reference NZ I tickled the paint off a plate on the side of a massey 2cwt clear space that revealed "Supplied by Kidd and Garrett, Auckland, New Zealand". Hence manufactured 1954 in the UK, then shipped to NZ and 40 years on shipped back to UK. This hammer is currently running in my forge in Ireland, good quality tools are worth moving around.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawtiron Posted November 7, 2010 Author Share Posted November 7, 2010 On a different note reference NZ I tickled the paint off a plate on the side of a massey 2cwt clear space that revealed "Supplied by Kidd and Garrett, Auckland, New Zealand". Hence manufactured 1954 in the UK, then shipped to NZ and 40 years on shipped back to UK. This hammer is currently running in my forge in Ireland, good quality tools are worth moving around.. Man thats done some travelling! I know of 2 or 3 other 2cwts still in use over here. I'd like to see some photos. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Ocean freight moves awful cheap. I brought a 50 KG self-contained from Sweden to Tacoma Washington for around $300 (delivered to my door!). Bout the same as I'd have to pay here to move it 100 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myloh67 Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Jason no sooner said than done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Sculpture Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Great show! It's amazing how much room they have on those steam hammer dies. I bet it would be hard to make a good bend on that press wile being shot at! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawtiron Posted November 8, 2010 Author Share Posted November 8, 2010 Jason no sooner said than done You Beauty!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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