Unusual jack

[God mode restorations]

Hi guys .
Having a rummage around the skips and dug this strange ratchet jack out of a metal skip.anyone know what it was originally used for.

 

[steve_s]

I think its a toe jack for getting under machinery fork trucks etc

 

[rtbcomp]

I think it's a railway jack - Google simplex "Railway jack"

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@rtbcomp
Beat me to it.

They were a nice bit of kit, wish me had one.
No use for it, I just like old odd stuff.

 

[Welderpaul]

'Railways jacks', but usually used for lifting machines. We have a couple under an inch of dust. This one is missing the cap.

Can still buy them today. Testament I suppose to a good design. The handle likes to come up a bit quick when you are lowering stuff down.

 

[arther dailey]

Same as old an rusty..I like it.Arther

 

[balmerchris]

Good find. I have 2 and they are incredibly useful and strong. mine are rated at 5 ton but have lifted well over 8 ton each, on the top plate not the toe.
I think they are big money new, iirc we priced a new one in work at around £1000.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

That's a nasty looking crack in the penultimate pic - I wonder if that's why it ended up in the skip?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@slim_boy_fat
20-20 vision again?

 

[penfold]

The cracked bit has green fungus on it; accumulated congealed grease or some kind of anti-rattle pad made of rubber?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@slim_boy_fat
20-20 vision again?

Almost as strong as my 20:20 hindsight.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

The cracked bit has green fungus on it; accumulated congealed grease or some kind of anti-rattle pad made of rubber?

Aye, I suppose it could be designed to deaden the blow when the handle catches you under the chin, as per @Welderpaul 's post.

 

[sardine]

My one. A 10 ton'er.

 

[Mee]

Actually called Foot Jacks and were adopted by many industries, the rail industry used many of them to lift and level rails before the advent of auto lifting and levelling machinery you drive on the rails now, many other heavy engineering industries such as mining and steel also used them and they were constructed as a one design application to meet specific requirements of many industries.

 

[God mode restorations]

I will put it on my truck tomorrow nds keep it in the shed until I can get round to a little refurbishment on it.

 

[sardine]

They are excellent at smashing your shins on, weighing things down, using as anchors, or falling over and smashing things in your workshop.

 

[sardine]

I'll put some more hot shots of my jack up, no holes barred, lifting porn.

 

[balmerchris]

I'll put some more hot shots of my jack up, no holes barred, lifting porn.

Looks like the casting under the toe has been cut off or broken off.

 

[sardine]

Looks like the casting under the toe has been cut off or broken off.

Its the lightweight version.

 

[roofman]

Wow..what a find. I have a matching pair of unusual jacks myself and iff i think on ile post a few pics up to see iff anyone knows about them..great thread and are there anymore strange lifting jacks out there?