thank you for trying to be helpful.... but I'm focused on quality, name brand, legacy and or hand me down awesome stuff. No new generic 600 dollar floor jack is cool. These Walker Grayhounds are cool. Please, see this blog's title and subtitle, "things with wheels that are cool" and some off the shelf new thing ain't gonna be described as cool. No design aesthetic, no history charm from being a corner garage and service station daily tool...
I don't have one of those, but I have another very old one that I found in a dump in the mid 1970's. It was plenty old when I found it, I think. Like the old Walkers, it's quite narrow, which makes it very useful for tight spaces, but uniquely, it has four straight wheels and no casters, and a cardan universal joint to operate the valve. I don't think there's a label on it any more, and I've never seen one like it. When I found it it had a loose leaky valve body and a broken u-joint, which I fixed in a jiffy, and it's been in service ever since. I have to top off the oil every few years when it stops going up all the way, but otherwise I think that even though it is not stylish at all, it counts as cool for having lifted so many vehicles over so many years for as close to free as it can get (And it has wheels). Right now I think it's got some snow and ice on it, but if possible I'll have to see if I can get a picture and check if there's any residual ID to be seen.
Here is a link to a picture of it: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3labcf4o76sxsh7/Manley%20Jack.jpg?dl=0
It turns out it does still have a tag on it though it's nearly indecipherable. It is a Manley, made by a Manley Mfg. a division of the American Chain and Cable Co. The model is unclear, but starts at least with a "9" and no picture seems to appear on the web of this model at least on a cursory search. I saw a similar one from another company, billed as a "curb jack." This jack has proven hugely useful over the years, not only because it is so narrow, but because it goes down to a height of 4 1/2 inches, making it able to get under nearly anything. It was blue originally, and for some reason now long forgotten (probably what I had lying around at the time) I painted it yellow. Thinking about it, maybe I'll have to paint it again. It's looking a little shopworn! I probably painted last in about 1976.
By the way, too late to edit I think, I also have a couple of other old jacks, including a very old but still serviceable transmission jack, which I am pretty sure is this Blackhawk. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-blackhawk-750-lbs-1918468788
A friend gave it to me with a problematic pump piston, which requires TLC from time to time (it pulls out of its hole if you overdo it), but this thing is the absolute cat's meow when it comes to lining things up, as it adjusts angle on both axes, and it drops down very low so you can get the thing out from under without jacking the car to the sky. Over the years I've done a few transmissions, and had it set up once for VW engines. You could pull the engine out of a VW bus or put it back in in about ten minutes.
http://www.phjjacks.com/merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PHJ&Product_Code=93657-Recond&Category_Code=FL
ReplyDeletethank you for trying to be helpful.... but I'm focused on quality, name brand, legacy and or hand me down awesome stuff. No new generic 600 dollar floor jack is cool. These Walker Grayhounds are cool. Please, see this blog's title and subtitle, "things with wheels that are cool" and some off the shelf new thing ain't gonna be described as cool. No design aesthetic, no history charm from being a corner garage and service station daily tool...
DeleteI don't have one of those, but I have another very old one that I found in a dump in the mid 1970's. It was plenty old when I found it, I think. Like the old Walkers, it's quite narrow, which makes it very useful for tight spaces, but uniquely, it has four straight wheels and no casters, and a cardan universal joint to operate the valve. I don't think there's a label on it any more, and I've never seen one like it. When I found it it had a loose leaky valve body and a broken u-joint, which I fixed in a jiffy, and it's been in service ever since. I have to top off the oil every few years when it stops going up all the way, but otherwise I think that even though it is not stylish at all, it counts as cool for having lifted so many vehicles over so many years for as close to free as it can get (And it has wheels). Right now I think it's got some snow and ice on it, but if possible I'll have to see if I can get a picture and check if there's any residual ID to be seen.
ReplyDeletegreat! I'd like to see it, becuase its got a great story!
DeleteHere is a link to a picture of it: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3labcf4o76sxsh7/Manley%20Jack.jpg?dl=0
DeleteIt turns out it does still have a tag on it though it's nearly indecipherable. It is a Manley, made by a Manley Mfg. a division of the American Chain and Cable Co. The model is unclear, but starts at least with a "9" and no picture seems to appear on the web of this model at least on a cursory search. I saw a similar one from another company, billed as a "curb jack." This jack has proven hugely useful over the years, not only because it is so narrow, but because it goes down to a height of 4 1/2 inches, making it able to get under nearly anything. It was blue originally, and for some reason now long forgotten (probably what I had lying around at the time) I painted it yellow. Thinking about it, maybe I'll have to paint it again. It's looking a little shopworn! I probably painted last in about 1976.
By the way, too late to edit I think, I also have a couple of other old jacks, including a very old but still serviceable transmission jack, which I am pretty sure is this Blackhawk. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-blackhawk-750-lbs-1918468788
ReplyDeleteA friend gave it to me with a problematic pump piston, which requires TLC from time to time (it pulls out of its hole if you overdo it), but this thing is the absolute cat's meow when it comes to lining things up, as it adjusts angle on both axes, and it drops down very low so you can get the thing out from under without jacking the car to the sky. Over the years I've done a few transmissions, and had it set up once for VW engines. You could pull the engine out of a VW bus or put it back in in about ten minutes.
WOW! Cool! Blackhawk made cool stuff back then! Power jacks, torpedo shaped tool boxes, and jacks!
Deletethanks for the link!