H. Edsil Barr Pneumatic Hammer

[dspaw]

I have acquired most of the parts for this hammer (one piece body, cylinder with valve, guides, dies, etc.) but am missing some linkage parts and have been unable to locate any information on this hammer.  A Google Books search reveals some sales literature and a couple drawings, but still not enough. Based upon these searches I believe that the hammer was made in Erie PA sometime between 1915 and 1920 I have never seen a hammer of this type, but am hoping that someone else has such a hammer and will be able to send me photographs so that I can fabricate the missing pieces and get the hammer back in operating condition.  I have attached a photo of the body - its a nice small hammer (I think it is only about 5 feet tall).

[Frosty]

Welcome aboard, glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many of the IFI gang live within visiting distance.

 

There should be a patent # on it, if not a patent search with the model or better yet serial number will provide more drawings than a boy could wish for.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

[patrick]

That reminds me of a 50 lb Erie steam hammer I saw once. What is the ram weight in that machine? How big is the bottom die looks pretty big but maybe that is just the scale of the over all machine?

[dspaw]

Frosty:  I can't find any patent number or model/serial number on the hammer body.  Not sure why you think there should be a patent number on the hammer - are you familiar with this company and their hammers?  For what its worth, I have done patent searches for H. Edsil Barr and Harry Edsil Barr and do not come up with anything relevant.

Patrick:  This hammer may be similar to a 50 lb Erie steam hammer - I am not sure.  But this is not a steam hammer converted to air - it was manufactured as an air hammer.

I don't know what the ram weight is - I would guess the entire air cylinder/top die weighs about 75 lbs or so.  I am not near the hammer now and am not sure how big the bottom die.  I guess 4 inches x 8 inches but it may be longer - maybe 10-12 inches.  I would doubt that it is the original bottom die.  

I am hoping that someone has the same hammer and can send me some photographs so I can fabricate the control rods and couplings. 

[Andrew T]

I'll PM you the contact info for a guy that had what he called a 75lb Edsil Barr air hammer.

[patrick]

Did you look in The Hammerman's Emporium". It's by the same author as Pounding Out the Profits with a focus on air hammers.

[dspaw]

Andrew:  Thanks for the information.  I will give him a call

Patrick:  I did not know about that book.  Unfortunately, based upon the information I could find, "The Hammerman's Emporium" does not include information on my hammer.  For those interested, this book reportedly contains information on:  Buffalo Forge Company, 1887; Central Machine Works Company, 1924; Kerrihard Company, 1918; Nazel Engineering & Machine Works, 1914; L. Philibert-Largeron, 1900; Potts $ Weber, 1891; Schuyler Manufacturing Company, 1925; Star Foundry Company, 1917 and United Hammer Company, 1917.

[Dillon Sculpture]

Very cool little unit, take some pics of the rest when you get a chance. I'm sure we can help you get it back in operation, bunch of real knowledgeable folk here.

[Dillon Sculpture]

Little bit here- http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/steam-forging-hammer-drop-blacksmith-52682032

[GERRY B]

 dspw : look at the video " new forge shop a little beaver historical society " I think that this is the hammer that Dillon sculpture referenced

[dspaw]

Dillon:

Thanks for the information.  I have found a couple pages of catalogs or advertisements for this hammer (see attached).  I think these images are accurate views of what my hammer should look like, but they are still incomplete as to the control linkages - mostly for operation of the valve. At least that is how I see it.  There are some differences between my hammer and what is shown, but I don't think they are significant.

Gerry:  That hammer is different, but thanks for the link.  That person has uploaded some interesting old videos related to steel making.

 

Collier Engineer - July 1915.pdfCompressed Air Magazine.pdf

[Dillon Sculpture]

Interesting I wonder if they referred to Scott Forge making the tool steel dies for this hammer? This set up is like Kens hammers, connecting the ram to the motion valve on the top through the linkages. He may have more research on this type of system than most. Most American made hammers use the sword to connect to the motion valve. I think Iron Woody big Aussi hammer has a similar set up as well. This would be a great hammer to put back in production! 

[patrick]

The reference to Scott steel is not to Scot Forge products. At that time Scot Forge was known as Atlas Forge and it carried that name into the 1970s. It wasn't renamed until Peter Jorgeson, the last private owner, started the transition from his ownership to an employee owned company. That transition was complete in the lat 1990s and ever since Scot Forge has been 100% employee owned.