Big Chain

[HeelSpur]

What do reckon this was used for? The links are 4 1/2" long and there are 15 of them.
Don't know why I brought it home but I had to have it.

[JUNK-MAN]

Did you ask the seller? It is probably for an industrial purpose on a crane for lifting large steel or concrete blocks or something in those lines.

[gibsontool]

That chain looks to be what is know as " Long Link " in the Pulp mill and sawmill industry. The standard these days is 3/4" dia x 5"  or 1' dia x 6" long. It's typical use is for conveyors moving sawdust, bark or chips. They normally have a "flight" which consists of 2 pieces of flatbar 3/4' x 3' x 24" or so long welded into the links and spaced about 5' or so apart. Your chunk of chain looks to be a slightly smaller version of this type of chain and my guess is somebody rigged it up to use as a tow chin of some sort.

[turnnut]

are those links 1/2" diameter ?

[anglesmith]

Lot less and easier work hand forging ( fire welding) large link chain than making 3 times as many smaller links !? Note the hook had to be on the link be fore it was "shut" , which in my mind makes it unlikely to be commercial bought chain.  I think this piece of chain would date back to before 1900 and was probably made by a farmer out of what he had lying around?
Graeme

[anglesmith]

Second thought ! All the farm / workshop blacksmithing books from the early 1900s to 1950s  (J M Drew, Mack M Jones etc ) showed how to make this type of large link chain and basic hook.
Graeme

[HeelSpur]

are those links 1/2" diameter ?

Yes, and a few of the links have a stretched look to them.
Almost like they had one hell of a load on them.

[bill300d]

I've got a similar chain that's got an oval ring on the other end so you can use it as a choker. I use it to pull bushes and stumps out. The chain looks to be hand made and it 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" and 3/8 thick. I've tried to part with it several times and can't, It's too handy.

bill