A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
Matt in California
Posts: 726
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:42 pm
First Name: Matt
Last Name: G
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring, 1926 Fordor Project, TT C-cab flatbed farm field find, TT dump truck project
Location: California
MTFCA Number: 30697

A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by Matt in California » Fri Jun 26, 2020 11:47 am

Recently a 90 year man informed me he is clearing out his shop. I originally meet him at a garage sale. He had lots of Blacksmiths tools from his grandfather that purchased. In WWII the blacksmith worked at the Navy yards and evidently was recognized for a few (tool?) designs.

His grandfather also had a TT truck and two spare engines that he would rotate as he repaired. Always keeping one in service.

So when he contacted me this time I didn’t expect to find any I had missed in the past, but I did find this:
93EB9526-5403-434E-8898-4B2FE89937A4.jpeg
Take a look and tell me what you think of these tools.

Matt

User avatar

walber
Posts: 214
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:55 pm
First Name: Walt
Last Name: Berdan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '18 Speedster had 25 touring and 26 coupe
Location: Bellevue, WA
MTFCA Number: 16421

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by walber » Fri Jun 26, 2020 11:56 am

Handles for pulling a Model A head?

User avatar

RajoRacer
Posts: 4308
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Tomaso
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
Location: Longbranch, WA
MTFCA Number: 14972
MTFCI Number: 15411
Board Member Since: 2001

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by RajoRacer » Fri Jun 26, 2020 12:37 pm

Appears as though one is for a "T" (tapered thread) and the other is "A" (SAE). Nice handles for manipulating a cylinder head, for sure.

User avatar

Susanne
Posts: 1045
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:06 pm
First Name: Susanne
Last Name: Rohner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '15 touring, "Angel".
Location: Valfabbrica, (central) Italy
MTFCA Number: 464
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999
Contact:

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by Susanne » Fri Jun 26, 2020 12:44 pm

Looks like they were made from old spark plugs - Brilliant! (Files idea away for a future project...)

User avatar

RustyFords
Posts: 1554
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:16 am
First Name: Don
Last Name: Allen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: Houston, TX
MTFCA Number: 50001

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by RustyFords » Fri Jun 26, 2020 12:53 pm

I love stuff like that. Sooooo cool.

My grandfather was an amateur blacksmith and his dad was as well. I have some of their creations and they're among my favorite possessions.
1924 Touring

User avatar

Mark Nunn
Posts: 1105
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:01 am
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Nunn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: Bennington, NE
MTFCA Number: 50321
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by Mark Nunn » Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:04 pm

I have a similar tool from my uncle's stash. It is in al "L" shape rather than "T" and was made with a sparkplug base. The L-bar is solid steel and was forged into shape rather than bent.

Here is mine.
bluehead.gif
Last edited by Mark Nunn on Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.


2nighthawks
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2019 2:53 am
First Name: Harold
Last Name: Schwendeman
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '23 Roadster Pickup, '26 Touring, '27 Depot Hack, '23 Roadster
Location: Seattle
MTFCA Number: 0
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by 2nighthawks » Fri Jun 26, 2020 2:35 pm

Interesting that T-handles pictured both have notches in one end of the horizontal (or top cross piece) of the tools,.......???

User avatar

Topic author
Matt in California
Posts: 726
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:42 pm
First Name: Matt
Last Name: G
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring, 1926 Fordor Project, TT C-cab flatbed farm field find, TT dump truck project
Location: California
MTFCA Number: 30697

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by Matt in California » Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:31 pm

Steve,
Good eye! I hadn’t tested/notice the difference in threads.
736D95C4-4EAE-41C2-99E2-3188E35FE1B4.jpeg
A4C03693-2703-4F71-A96F-15D604A3D50C.jpeg
Yes, only the tapered threaded one (on right) works.

The photos should answer some thoughts/questions mentioned.

Matthew
Last edited by Matt in California on Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.


Jim Sims
Posts: 181
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:38 pm
First Name: Jim
Last Name: Sims
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 17 touring 20 roadster 21coupe 25tudor 25 pickup 27 coupe
Location: Reed City, MI
MTFCI Number: 13377

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by Jim Sims » Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:43 pm

The handles are made from wristpins/

User avatar

Fordwright
Posts: 245
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:14 pm
First Name: Greg
Last Name: Popove
Location: Olds AB

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by Fordwright » Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:00 pm

Makes you wonder how all those mechanics managed to lift the heads without those tools.

User avatar

Topic author
Matt in California
Posts: 726
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:42 pm
First Name: Matt
Last Name: G
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring, 1926 Fordor Project, TT C-cab flatbed farm field find, TT dump truck project
Location: California
MTFCA Number: 30697

Re: A Blacksmith and his custom T tools

Post by Matt in California » Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:11 pm

Bingo Jim!

The vertical wrist pins are even cut before welded. With wrist pins hardened, depending on tools at hand, that could be a bit of work to cut!

Matt

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic