ID Vintage Screw Jack

[Guest GSO]

This ancient screw jack has been in our shed for decades. If I can confirm that it has an automotive application, I will try to find an interested collector. It is likely Canadian in origin. With the upward facing exposed crown gear, I suspect that it was an early application that was quickly superseded, as it looks fairly unsafe by today's standards.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,

Stu

[Dave Mellor NJ]

These jacks turn up quite often as do unbranded tools and other implements. They were kept in garages for long years after their original cars were gone, then the garages got cleaned out and somebody thought they had something valuable. In my experience they're hard to sell and unpleasant to carry to flea markets. Other than that, welcome to our forum and good luck.

[Guest GSO]

Dave Mellor, thanks for the welcome and reply. In my searches of this forum, I noticed that this subject comes up occasionally, and that there are certain authorities on the subject, such as Karl Krouch Sr. In fact, at one point, there was mention made of a possible jack exhibit in the museum, but unfortunately, the old links are dead, and a web search turns up nothing on line. I have to agree with you about toting old jacks around; it is right up there with toting old chain saws around when it comes to pinched digits and greasy pant legs.

My inclination years ago was to trash all of the old stuff that I encountered. However, after I incinerated a ~1930 early a.c. radio, the subsequent lament of radio collectors caused me to reconsider my ways. Luckily, I had kept the tubes, as they were probably worth more than the radio.

So, now, when I come across something that may have collector interest, I often tote it out to the end of our long driveway and leave it with an ID sign and a coffee can. Our rural road becomes a high traffic thorougfare on the way to tourist spots on Lake Erie on the weekends. Often, stuff just sells itself; and most people are honest.

My favorite experience was when I left the four locking wheel covers from our '89 Caprice Classic, that I had cashed as a clunker, in a bushel basket with a very modest asking price. After a couple of days, this older fellow (like me) in a beautiful mid-60's red Corvair Corsa stopped for a look. The he came in for a chat. He had 13" knock-off wheels on his car and was having trouble finding tires. He told me how many hours he had spent hand polishing every spoke on his rims (added up to days) and they were a thing of beauty. However, he was now considering replacing them with 15" rims and low profile tires and those wheel covers were a very nice substitution for the originals. He just wanted to make sure that my price was for all four and not for each one (even included the key). He was pretty pleased to have the covers. Then he wondered where the rims were, but I told him that I had to drive the old Caprice to its final destination. I hope to see him drive by again someday with new wheels and those covers on.

So, you see, I don't drive a very hard bargain, but I do try to get old stuff into the hands of somebody who appreciates it.

So does anyone have an idea about the jacks application so that I can make a better sign?

Thanks again.

[Guest prs519]

I think they have a cachet (?) to them. They are so primitive, yet mark the time when we changed over from beasts of burden to mechanized mobility,etc.

[Dave Mellor NJ]

Stu I really like your style and hope you'll find the time to be a regular contributor here. While I was writing my reply I was thinking you might not appreciate me telling you the jack wasn't worth much but you gave a nice story of how you like to help people. Bravo

[Bud Tierney]

Try checking on EBay every so often; I've two or three I've ID'd (possibly) by matching pix. good luck.