Harold Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I've had this tow bar for a number of years and want to sell it because I don't anticipate using it. It's a 'BraKing' bumper-to-bumper tow bar made by Gross-Given, probably in the late 1950's to early 1960's. According to the paperwork, you can hook up a cable to pull down the brake pedal of the towed car. I see tow bars priced all over the place and would appreciate thoughts on what a realistic advertising price would be. Thanks for your thoughts.Harold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Even though it is in near new condition, I doubt it has much more than scrap value. Nobody will want it to tow their cars and it really has no collector value. Put it on eBay and consider any amount that it brings to be found money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhambulldog Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 looks in great shape. With the instruction sheet, also apparently in good shape...It should be in a museum.Trouble with museums is, the can't afford to pay for show pieces....To me it belongs with vintage Oil Company signs and gas pumps.... Maybe, there is some collector value .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlCapone Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Very nice condition but not in demand. Will not likely attract many buyers and therefore will not sell for much. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machinist_Bill Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 To me it belongs with vintage Oil Company signs and gas pumps....Now that's creative Bulldog! Use a piece of plywood nicely painted and attach that stuff to it and hang it on the wall. The reason I say this is that I have one too and wondered what the heck I'm gonna do with it. (Mine is not as nice so it will be labeled a "Barn Find") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I sold an old fulton one from the late 20's or early 30's in very good shape with probably 50 percent of it's original paint that actually clamped with big clamps from blade bumper to blade bumper. No chains. Super cool looking but it only had one bidder at the opening bid on ebay for 100.00. The Shipping on these is the killer. Unfortunately as others stated, not alot of useful value with today's cars as cars no longer have a real bumper any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Certainly not scrap. There's a tow truck museum in Chattanooga. Perhaps they'd be interested in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhambulldog Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I would be interested in how the "cable linked brakes" work .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 When I was about 23 years old I bought a '53 Chevrolet sedan from a co-worker and needed a way to move it about40 miles or more. I knew nothing about towbars, had never seen one, and did not know you could go to a U-Haul store and rent one. Someone suggested I ask another co-worker if he had one. Said he did and I think charged me a couple of dollars to borrow it. It was a piece of junk. A large clamp fastened to the bumper of the tow vehicle and another identical clamp clamped on the bumper of the towed vehicle with a connection in the middle that let it swivel. I hooked the Chevrolet behind my '63 Ford convertible and started home. That Chevrolet fishtailed back and forth across the road and felt like it was going to beat me to death. I got halfway home and sold the Chevrolet to a guy that wanted it. Next time I towed a vehicle it was with a U-Haul towbar and it was a breeze. I have to wonder how many cars the other guy tore up towing them with his piece of junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 John I have seen, used and made tow bars like you describe, more correctly termed "tow pole". They are supposed to be used with a second driver in the towed vehicle to steer and brake.I have one I made, it goes on the trailer hitch on my car, on the other end it has chains that allow me to fasten it to the chassis of a car. It will even work on new cars with rubber bumpers but you have to get underneath to install it. I have used this tow pole to tow a car 25 miles with the help of a friend.The original I saw in use by an old time mechanic who began working on cars in 1920. He started with a piece of pipe and a long chain. He would drop the chain down the pipe and fasten the ends to the bumpers of the cars, wrapping the chain around the bumper and using bolts to tighten in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I had two of them. One that I purchased in the 60's and another that I acquired in a building purchase. Looked at the prices on craigslist, ebay and determined that they are not of any value, especially with shipping, etc since I have a truck and car trailer. I just donated them to The Parade Company http://www.theparade.org/ for them to use to tow floats during the Thanksgiving parade.Best place that I could find for them to go to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cben09 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Santa-Klauss strikes again,,,Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) Santa-Klauss strikes again,,,BenHey, If I can not use it or have plans to use it, then time to part with it. Sell it, give it away, scrap it, or throw it in the trash. The old question is "Do you own your stuff or does it own you?"Trying to be sure I can find what I have to fix what I have. Edited January 1, 2015 by Larry Schramm (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Trying to be sure I can find what I have to fix what I have.Ahh, sounds like a little of my history. Years ago the wife felt sorry for me and cleaned my pickup out. She found an assortment of screw drivers, parts, and 3 sets of socket sets. I did not remember any of this stuff being in my pickup?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGratefullman1212 Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 If You Still Have This Awesome Tow Bar, I Would Love To Own It, If It's For Sale? I See Most Tow Bars Selling From $55.00 To $99.00 Dollars Online. Please Let Me Know If You Are Thinking About Selling Yours, Thanks Charles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 This is a very old thread. It's been gone for several years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Harold, which advice was best? Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted April 8, 2018 Author Share Posted April 8, 2018 5 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: Harold, which advice was best? Bernie I listed it on eBay for local pickup only and some guy from Buffalo wanted it badly. My son was attending RIT and brought the tow bar up after spring break; they met at Batavia Downs and that was that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Things always have a way of working out.. As a seller I have always offer anything I have for sale and let the buyer make the decision to purchase it. An old friend I grew up with used to just sizzle when he saw me sell things he would have thrown out. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted April 8, 2018 Author Share Posted April 8, 2018 2 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: An old friend I grew up with used to just sizzle when he saw me sell things he would have thrown out. Bernie My wife is amazed at some of the things I've sold...sometimes I am, too. The extra lunch money doesn't hurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Shipping cost will exceed the sale price. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikefit Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 I Worked for a van conversation company and we would drive one van and tow bar the second one from Indiana to the west coast. Then put the two bar in a army bag get on plane and fly back and do the same thing the next week . Bet you could not get on a plane today with the army bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 Probably check it as would probably be to big for the overhead. I wonder if this would be less expensive than shipping the vans. I have heard of a conversion place somewhere north of me that tosses out the seats. I think I remember something about those narrow seats working well in hot rods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted April 9, 2018 Author Share Posted April 9, 2018 4 hours ago, JACK M said: I have heard of a conversion place somewhere north of me that tosses out the seats. I think I remember something about those narrow seats working well in hot rods. Van conversion places are also a great source for the wall-to-wall rubber matting they pull out before they add carpeting. You can cut them down to fit smaller cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Not sure when I bought it new but used to haul a 70GP 4spd from Ft. Worth to North Palm Beach in 1984.. Now have a dolly but rarely get rid of anything. Before 1973 cars had bumpers you could clamp on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 In 1972 I rented a tow bar like that and towed my first 1934 Ford home with my brothers Pontiac Formula 400 Firebird. A bumper hitch and the 34 Ford steering was locked Ah, to be young and stupid again, but I got it home, got it running, and drove it around the block that day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timtlc115 Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 Have you sold tow bar yet looking for one all I own has metal bumpers thanks tim tchar115@yahoo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timtlc115 Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 Have you sold this old tow bar ? Looking for one have all metal bumpers thanks Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 I have a new one.. not sure how complete it is.. Need to pick it up from the shop.. I think I have one or two vintage tow hitches for an old car.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 The tow bar was sold several years ago. I recently unearthed some tow bar literature that may be useful to someone. I can always use some lunch money. Send me a PM if you want to discuss. Harold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 On 4/9/2018 at 5:34 PM, Harold said: Van conversion places are also a great source for the wall-to-wall rubber matting they pull out before they add carpeting. You can cut them down to fit smaller cars. I used to work for a van conversion company. They were Chevy vans and came with a cardboard driver's seat on the standard metal base, they used to discard this and put in captain's chairs. I took the seat base and bolted plywood to the top to make step stools that were very handy for working around the vans, installing windows etc. Got permission to bring some home, used to have lots but gave away all but one, wish I had a few of them now. They were strong enough to hold up a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darineugenius Posted November 26, 2023 Share Posted November 26, 2023 I realize it's years later STILL, but I'm in Mansfield ohio. This one is for sale. This was modified by an engineer who built over 20 cars, then stripped, poorly painted with engine block paint by me. and I also replaced the leather and nylon straps on the clamps, and put new chains on it. Darin Wiseman 419-989-8842 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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