Identify this blower?

[CraigListole]

I have a blower and need help in determining the manufacturer.  Part of it is Champion but have no idea who made the majority of it.

There are cast marks for Philadelphia, Wilmington, Trenton.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Craig

[Ridgeway Forge Studio]

Why do you doubt that the rest of it is champion? It looks like the gear box cover might from a later or earlier vintage than the rest, but in total I would call that a Lancaster Champion 400 blower- really excellent if in good condition.

and welcome to the forum!!!

[CraigListole]

Well, I doubt it because I've not seen photos of Champion blowers without "Lancaster" cast into it.

Yes, it runs very well.  About 55 years or more ago my parents used it attached to (not sure of the wording here) a large iron pan that was mounted on a stand that we used for a hot dog and hamburger grill. My guess is the large pan i refer to was a portable forge.

I was going to scrap it but figured it would be better to clean it up and sell it.

Thank you for the reply.

[Ridgeway Forge Studio]

Absolutely. It may have been a buffalo forge blower; I think they had a gearbox similar. But the fan casing is definitely a 400, which is a Lancaster champion

[CraigListole]

In looking around the web Buffalos will have a noticeable "Buffalo" cast into the housing.  I don't find any Buffalos that were made in the cities I mention above.

[Ridgeway Forge Studio]

Maybe you can try and make out some of the patent numbers? If you take a rubbingthey might be clear, then search the patents 

[CraigListole]

1 minute ago, Ridgeway Forge Studio said:

Maybe you can try and make out some of the patent numbers? If you take a rubbingthey might be clear, then search the patents 

Good idea.  I'll give it a try.

[CraigListole]

The patent on the major portion of the casting is 676322.

It is indeed a Champion blower.

I'm still curious why only the words "WER & FORGE" appear and not the complete BLOWER.

Oh well.  Thanks for the help fellas.

[Nobody Special]

It may be Frankensteined from two blowers. That sort of thing happens a lot in smithing, or it may have been put together from two castings from different periods at the factory from different molds or after the pattern had been changed slightly. That happens too occasionally.

[CraigListole]

Different parts from different times is probably correct. However, the entire blower is Champion.

[Mike BR]

That top part of the case is only a cover. It easily could have broken and been replaced, or even accidentally switched with another blower in the same forge. 

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

19 hours ago, CraigListole said:

"WER & FORGE"

AI has it figured out. Champion Forges were known to have more than one plant back in the day.

Here is the answer... mystery solved.

"Wer & Forge Co." appears to be a historic Canadian machinery and metalworking company based in Kitchener, Canada, mentioned in industrial records dating back to 1917

. Limited information is available, but it was listed alongside other manufacturers like H. W. Petrie in Toronto. "

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970

[CraigListole]

1 hour ago, Irondragon Forge ClayWorks said:

AI has it figured out. Champion Forges were known to have more than one plant back in the day.

Here is the answer... mystery solved.

"Wer & Forge Co." appears to be a historic Canadian machinery and metalworking company based in Kitchener, Canada, mentioned in industrial records dating back to 1917

. Limited information is available, but it was listed alongside other manufacturers like H. W. Petrie in Toronto. "

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970

There's no record of "Wer & Forge Co". in Kitchener Canada.  There was Canadian Blower and Forge at that location but nothing else.

Mine is truly and entirely a Champion though, for whatever reason, from different assemblies by the same company. The Patent numbers indicate the same.

[Ridgeway Forge Studio]

You have to love how wrong AI is sometimes. I asked it once to identify an anvil for me (clearly an early American wrought iron steel top) and it said it might be a trenton... It looked NOTHING like a Trenton, and the letters stamped in would not even match if you forced them... 

[CraigListole]

"Artificial" says it all.  Fake intelligence.

I'm convinced that the supposed AI will only replace jobs and work of stupid people.
Show me AI that'll cut my grass or paint my house and I'll change my mind. That goes for the notion of "intuitive" programs. Intuitive really means the computer trains it's user to use it.

Like the movie- "Colossus: The Forbin Project", Colossus says at the end in effect, "you will learn to love me". Dr. Forbin replies, "never".

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

I thought AI stood for  "Almost Intelligent".

[MeltedSocks]

 

[CraigListole]

Sounds like one step above the movie "Idiocracy"

[MeltedSocks]

Idiocracy is one of my favorite movies, not only because it's brilliant, but because it is also prophetic.   Team America: World Police is equally brilliant for other reasons.

Freedom cost $1.05.

[CraigListole]

Certainly I must watch that one!

Have you ever watched any episodes of The Prisoner? I came out in the 1960's.  

[JHCC]

I actually took a course on “The Prisoner” my senior year in college.