On our museum discussion group this came up. The
original question is first, and then the reply
follows. They believe it to be a valve lifter. Hope
someone can help!
Aaron
> >I am a student working on a collection that came
> into our museum over ten
> >years ago. Unfortunately, the artifacts were not
> processed and it is my
> >duty now to learn more. I was wondering if anyone
> had heard of a valve
> >spring lifter. I have found that recent lifters
> are for automobiles. This
> >iron tool may have been used to build a wagon (or
> so the accession records
> >say). It looks like a jack of some kind with
> handles. It is about 9" long
> >and has a spring between the two handles. As you
> squeezed the handles the
> >jack could lock in place. I am sorry this is
> vague. My knowledge of tools
> >is not extensive. I don't have a photograph as of
> yet. I have consulted
> >many tool books, web sites, and Sears catalogs. I
> will appreciate any
> >insight. Though the records call this tool a
> lifter, it may not even be this
> >type of tool.
>
> I am also no expert, but this does sound like a
> spring compressor,
> used to hold a coil spring in compressed mode while
> it is installed
> into whatever place it needs to go. When the tool
> is removed, the
> spring snaps into place. This kind of tool could be
> used with all
> kinds of springs. Automotive valve springs are
> pretty small--1" by
> 2" if memory serves--and keep the valves inside an
> engine closed
> until the cam shaft pushes them open to let fuel in
> or exhaust out.
> A tool for bigger springs could be used for wagons,
> although I don't
> know of any wagons with coil springs.
=====
Aaron Marcavitch-- [log in to unmask]
Webmaster/Program Assistant
Historic Massachusetts
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