They always say one of the best things about collecting old tools, is that you're saving history--in that the tools possibly helped build America. This alligator actually did, as according to my grandfather, was likely used to install tracks along the large area N&W RR controlled here. I found this in the garage, where I'd stashed it over a decade ago. Didn't realize the Norfolk and Western property markings until today.
The original owner, the man who originally owned the property we lease until he passed away (we currently least it from his daughter) if I'm not mistaken, was actually a former employee of the Norfolk and Western RR.
I don't know who makes it--only markings I saw other than the "N&W" property markings were a "W" surrounded by a horizontal diamond, and "No. 3" which likely correlates to whatever size it was in their catalog. I also saw specks of green paint. I didn't have a ruler--Petersen Vise Grip 6LN for size. I had to use a soapstone pencil to make some of the markings readable--the lighting in the basement is rather dim. My grandmother would be pretty ticked off if I brought it upstairs, coated in loose rust and WD40.
It's kind of funny. I'm likely the only 19 year old who knows what an alligator wrench is. My grandfather told me what it was when I found the thing more than 10 years ago. I was in Mechatronics class at the local community college I attend, and both my instructor (an electrician with more than 20 years of experience), and an instructor who was taking the course (who's actually over the college's engineering program) had to look it up (and the first result that popped up was here, actually believe it or not) when I mentioned alligator wrenches when we were going over tool types and were on the Crescent wrenches section (in which I asked, do they even use alligator wrenches anymore?) for those who didn't know in an Industrial Maintenance textbook.
2016-09-11_06-50-35 by
cody6268, on Flickr
2016-09-11_06-55-16 by
cody6268, on Flickr
2016-09-11_06-50-20 by
cody6268, on Flickr
2016-09-11_06-49-43 by
cody6268, on Flickr
