What I found yesterday

[Herb Iffrig]

Yesterday I took a walk through the local flea market and spied these:

engine tongs 2.JPG (57.71 KiB) Viewed 2718 times

Thinking I knew what they were I bought them.
I came home and did some research and found this photo:

Engine tongs.JPG (61.03 KiB) Viewed 2718 times

While not identical they are close. There are no markings on the tongs I have. I wonder if they were blacksmith made for the same purpose or are they for something else.
Has anyone seen a pair of tongs like the ones I have?

[Scott_Conger]

Grappling hooks for lifting most anything heavy...as in logging

[TRDxB2]

Those are Lifting Tongs. Variations for logging, ice blocks , stone etc. Be careful in using them, lifting the engine puts the jaws clamping at its weight.

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Grappling Hooks used to grab onto something: pirate ships, walls, sharks, etc - also used for lifting & also for pulling

[DanTreace]

Reminded me of grandfather’s ice block tongs! Used to load the ice box back then!

[Herb Iffrig]

The jaws are not pointy they are more like a big flat bladed screwdriver. I don't see how they would work on an ice block or a log. I have several of the other kinds.

[Norman Kling]

Herb,
In your picture, I see what looks like a thumb or finger. The tongs don't look big enough if that is what I really see in the picture. Anyway, whatever you do, if you try using them for an engine or anything that heavy, don't get your foot or any part of your body under the engine or even within a few feet of it, because it could come down very quickly and break a bone.
Do you live anywhere near the area of the flooding?
Norm

[Dan Hatch]

Pictures of real ones

Markings on arms

[speedytinc]

You may have a really good start on the tool. Make the correct ends & weld em on. This is my plan. Chances of finding the correct tool are slim. Finding a set of tongs that can be modified gets you closer faster. Recently someone posted the dimensions to make the tool.

tongs

Modelt engine Tongs.gif (90.88 KiB) Viewed 2525 times

This shows the ends you need.
Many thanks to the poster(Dan Hatch?) The drawing gets me closer to having a set also.

[Dan Hatch]

I looked for about 15 + years for a set before I found mine. At Hershey in White field leaning against a table.
That is why I still like swap meets.

[Allan]

You did well Dan. It took me a lot longer to find an original cast iron spark plug tube spanner for my 1912 toolkit. When you do make these finds it is most rewarding.

Allan from down under.

[Altair]

I found this hook it weighs about 25 LBS. I was scanning with my metal detector on a 100 year old abandoned logging rail bed. The rail bed is completely grown over with new 100 year old trees. With a lot of searching I managed to locate the old rail bed.

[sweet23]

I found lifting tongs at an auction. Darryl

[Dan Hatch]

Do your tongs have the same numbers on the arms as mine?