jmalle Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 Can any members here help me to identify some tools? My grandfather was a boilermaker for the B&O railroad from 1927-1957, and I'd like to know more about them and what they were used for. I can send pictures to assist. Thank you. J Malle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 why not post photos then ask? all we can do in make blinds guesses with out any real information Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 Welcome aboard... Also knowing where in the world you are located will help, hence the suggestion to edit your profile to show it in the Read This First thread. I do know different parts of the world have many different tools from the U.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Welcome aboard. If you post some thumbnail pictures it would be greatly appreciated. I'm just guessing but I'm sure he's going to have some hammers, a torch, soldering irons. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmalle Posted August 9, 2020 Author Share Posted August 9, 2020 Hello all, I finally posted some pictures here. Let's call the top row pictures, left to right, 1 through 4 second row, left to right, 5 through 8 and the last one number 9. Again, my grandfather was a boilermaker for the B&O railroad. I know some are chisels, and specialized pliers, but number nine is of special interest! thank you for any help here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 My take, in reverse: Last photo appears to be of a pair of soldering irons, one missing a handle. One before it is a set of long nose, flat tip pliers with some minor customization to the handle. Might have been for something special, but probably specific to the user. Pretty sure the one above that is used for either cinching or pulling out using the leverage of the pliers handle against the "hammer head". No idea about the two chisels that appear to be modified into bottle openers. The Tee handle is probably for a chuck of some sort (maybe a lathe chuck?). Set of (4) stone/concrete tools above that (three star drills and a chisel). Above that we have a wood chisel, center punch, cape chisel, and impact gun chisel (possibly). Last (first) is a end cutting pliers with a nail puller on one handle and some kind of scribe or manual hole reamer on the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Folks, The second to last tool resembles those used by fellows tying reinforcing wire for laying concrete forms. The third to last tool resembles a tightening tool for stretching leather, on a last. That's my cents. (nah, make it three cents). SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmalle Posted August 9, 2020 Author Share Posted August 9, 2020 Thank you both for the insight into these tools! Very helpful. J. Malle The two chisels that look like they were modified into bottle openers is an interesting take on them. I'd have to try them, but I would welcome other thoughts or opinions on them as well. I never saw them used for that, so I'm wondering if there was a specific use for them as a tool. Would anyone else here on the site have other resources or websites I could check ? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Mr. Jmalle, Hath written, and the SLAG quotes, "Would anyone else here on the site have other resources or websites I could check ?" The quote is a trifle vague. Could you be more specific? SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 The two chisels that look like bottle openers look even more like tools for cutting sheet metal. Can openers so to speak. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 I have seen those air chisels used in muffler shops for cutting off old mufflers & tail pipes. They peal a thin curl of metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Third from last is a webbing stretcher I believe. An upholsterers tool, it stretches the webbing and then the hammer is used to tack it in place. Very similar to a farriers horseshoe nail clinching alligator pliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 "bottle openers" are sheet metal cutters used in an air driven tool as it the other shouldered chisel up higher. The Chisels with the + cross section near the working end are star drills used for drilling holes in concrete of stone using a hand hammer---still available at most hardware stores; but gradually fading away in favour of hammer drills. First picture: nippers used for cutting steel or copper wire Second picture left to right: wood socket chisel, center punch or drift or alignment tool---I use them interchangeably, cape chisel used to chisel on cast iron or steel, chisel for an air tool 3rd Star drills 4th T handle used to turn a valve with that shape 5th & 6th used to cut sheet metal 5th with an air tool and 6th by hand with a hammer 7th upholstery tool 8th pliers 9th soldering "coppers" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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