Look at the tools these guys are posing with.


http://www.shorpy.com/ <----Visit this link and search for Wheelwright Shop to see it larger.

ONE of my many questions - what would be the purpose of the tower I see in the background in 1862?

Thanks for sharing.

Great site!  How about the blacksmith shop view in 1904

http://www.shorpy.com/node/12320

In 1862, what brand of monkey wrench is the guy holding in the Wheelwright photo?

Quote from: johnsironsanctuary on April 29, 2012, 10:32:25 PM
In 1862, what brand of monkey wrench is the guy holding in the Wheelwright photo?

Coes patent screw wrench.  These were Gov't issue.

I have a number of photos like this from the Library of Congress collection.  I downloaded them big, so I don't know if I can load them up here.

OSHA would have a stroke there!

How long you worked in the shop, Lefty?

>what would be the purpose of the tower I see in the background in 1862?

An interesting question, as it looks quite a bit like a radio tower...30+ years too early, for 1862....

And rather tall to be a fire or watch tower....

Quote from: johnsironsanctuary on April 29, 2012, 10:32:25 PM
In 1862, what brand of monkey wrench is the guy holding in the Wheelwright photo?

Wrench with the threaded shaft adjustment is a Taft's pattern Railroad Wrench which was a refinement of Merrick's 1851 patent made by Bemis & Call. Around 1862 L. & A. G Coes (later A. G. Coes Co.) took over production from Taft. They made these into the early 1870's. So if the picture was taken in 1862 wrench could of been made by Taft or if was fairly new by Coes

That tower MIGHT have been a lightning rod, intended to keep lightning from striking a building and starting a fire. LOTS of buildings were destroyed that way in the 1800's, before professional firefighters and modern equipment came along. Thus, dealing with lightning was serious business back then.

Just my guess.

Quote from: Papaw on April 29, 2012, 09:09:00 PM
Look at the tools these guys are posing with.


http://www.shorpy.com/ <----Visit this link and search for Wheelwright Shop to see it larger.

Notice the claw hammers, anyone?  There are three shown, and every one is the pre-Maydole style, without the adz eye.

Great photos, I like the Blacksmith school with display boards..

I see the dog brought his hammer, too.  I notice the fellow on the far right is holding a broad hatchet.  Used to be a common tool among house carpenters, but now you'd never know they were ever important in the building trades.

Really like these old photos!

Can I add one?

...Rob