smfg_mendo Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I picked up my grandfathers swage block finally. I was wondering how you tell the age of these and who makes them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 BTW are you in Chico Chile or Chico Mexico? If the swageblock isn't marked then you have little to go on; you will need to search all the old advertisements hunting for a similar one and even then realize that thousands of small foundries all over the place had the skills to duplicate or make a block to order. If you have any documentaion---old day books or ledgers that might mention the date and "bought swageblock from XYZ co, $AB" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Looking at the first pictures It reminded me of some Canadian SB, but then seeing the pic of the back I wonder if it could be english as I know we did make some hollow backed types......I was looking at some sites only recently.....I'll see if I can find a link that may help you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfg_mendo Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 Im in Chico california. I cant see any markings on it but it has decades of dust and oil accumulation on it from setting in a welding shop. ill have to clean it up a bit and see if any markings become visible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Here's the site I was thinking of, can't believe I couldn't remember it's web addy...... http://swageblocks.com/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfg_mendo Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 great link, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Just recalled that sometimes a patent search can turn up items with a special feature that might have been patented way back when. (still hard to prove that even if similar it was the same manufacturer though...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 There's not a great likelyhood of any certain identification or even date, many swage blocks would have been made by small foundries used to service other local industries, and may well have either been cast to order for a clients specific needs or produced ass oddment castings to use up a pour. With a bit of luck you may be able to narrow it down to a known style rather than specific pattern and therefore an area or country of origin. The hollow back is a a feature I've not seen much previously and may be a good indicator of origin. However, regardless of the above, hope you get a lot of use out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfg_mendo Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 i have not seen any with the hollow back style before. It really has me stumped, hopefully something pops up after I clean it up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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