I went to get some pictures and some more information today and I met the REAL owner, not the turkey I talked to last time. Paul was not happy his guy told me it was for sale because it is not. It is actually going to be taken to his son who is getting into blacksmithing. I did find out that it was a little giant 500lb hammer before it almost got scrapped by a careless former employee of his, he hit it with a 50 ton crane hence the 50 ton on the new fly wheel. I thought that was kinda funny. He said it is getting an original fly wheel back on it along with a new motor because the thicker fly wheel just made the motor burn out. He said it has not been used in almost 15 years but will be back in service in a few months. The only reason he is in Montana is to get it. I was not going to waste anymore of his time after learning what it was so I did not get any pictures of it because I know what a 500lb looks like. This one just looks goofy with that fly wheel on it. After speaking with him for a few more minutes in told me about this. So I had to check it out.
That is one of 3 hammers in this new to me shop. It has not been used in over 20 years, there are 2 others in the shop. The one in the pic is minimum 25ft tall. The other 2 are roughly 12-15ft and 6-8ft. They might be for sale, their owner is coming in from Seattle next week. I was told not to bother him until at least Wednesday, so I'll have to wait until then to know if they can be bought. They are all air powered. After speaking with the gent at this place he told me about this.
This one is not for sale at all, it is an old steam powered one. It is also in a museum. Not one person there knew what it was. Since I knew more than them(which mind you is not that much) they asked if I would restore it for them, I said I would once I found out enough about it and if it can be done for a reasonable amount. So I have me a project, since I cannot have it I will try and restore it and get it indoors so it does not rust away.
If anyone would like to lend some input on this old beauty I would appreciate it, I know many of you have mountains of knowledge on these old hammers. I will go back and give it a good looking over, see what I can find out about it, was just in a rush today, all the places I went put ~300 miles on my car.
They also had these. Not for sale either. They said if they had 2 of each, they would sell one in a heartbeat but they don't which sucks but such is life.
The people at the museum told me about a guy that might have a whole barn full of blacksmithing stuff and he may not, they do not know. I have driven by his place before but never stopped. Today, I stopped and he was not home. It has potential though, guy has acres of old equipment and several buildings that contain god knows what. I called him and am waiting for a call back. I had to get a picture of this though. If I can get closer to it I will get a better pic but I was not going on his ground without permission.
I don't think this is something he will part with just because I wouldn't and what the hell would I do with it?? Only to have a bigger yard because that is one cool tractor. So my search for old stuff continues, those two tards on American Pickers have my job..lol.
