Anybody ever see a clamp like this?  Found at a farm auction this weekend. 

No, but the handle reminds me of the picture frame clamp we were talking about a while ago...hmm

Maybe a precursor to the pipe clamp?

Was thinking the same thing-the twist knob looks like those picture frame clamps. Must be same era.

I have two clamps which are very similar in design, the only real difference is that mine have what resembles a large wing nut (about 4"across the wings) for screw handles.

I have several of these also with the wing type handle.  Kind of makes you think about the train riders tool boxes discussed earlier in another post.   The worker could carry his bar/pipe clamps inside the box to the jobsite, use a piece of wood as required to clamp.  At the end of the project,  leave the wood at the site, place the hardware back in the box, on to next job.

Very interesting, and makes sense!  Would have never thought of that possibility.  Thanks

Quote from: GaryD on August 06, 2012, 06:30:53 PM
Anybody ever see a clamp like this?  Found at a farm auction this weekend.

Sure have, and have used them in making sash and doors.  They're pretty much precursors to pipe clamps, but more carpenter friendly.
Never thought of  taking them around on jobs.  Their advantages are that the hardware store doesn't have to carry a bunch of different
ones in a variety of lengths, and in the workshop they are as long or as short as the job requires.

Oh.  About the handles.  The wing-nut style was a kinda clamp standard -- C-clamps had them too.  The faucet style handles, though, are quicker in production work.

The 1917 catalog for Geo B. Carpenter & Co. - Chicago, IL lists them as "bar clamps"

Kool Tool,
I found one like the top fig. C4A in the catalog, with the notches in the steel T-beam ~5' long & heavy.