CPRR bronze mallet head, 1871 jounal box cover, and rail chair photographs
From: "Ivan & Catherine Oakeson" catrine26@aol.com
I'm attaching photos of an 1871 Jounal Box cover and a CPRR stamped bronze mallet head. ... Also, a few photos of a rail chair that is unmarked.
I'm also curious if you know of the rarity of these items? Any additional information you can provide would be appreciated. ...
—Catherine and Ivan Oakeson
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 6:26 PM
6 Comments:
See related items.
Rail chairs similiar to the one pictured are still found every year, between Auburn and Cisco, as well as East of Wadsworth. They sell in this area for $50 to $75.
Journal box covers are found between Loomis and the Utah State Line, the vintage pictured sell for $75 to $100 in this area.
I have never seen a mallet head, either for sale or on the ground. The letters "CPRR" appear indistinct, that said, if I were in the market for such an item, I'd pay $100 for it.
G J Chris Graves NewCastle, Cal.
I would agree with Chris Graves on all points.
The journal cover was most likely cast at the CP's Sacramento Shops in the Iron Foundry (there were several, the earliest of which -- c.1865-69 -- was formerly Goss & Lambard's Sacramento Iron Works at 2nd & I streets, where the California State Railroad Museum stands today. The replacement foundry for the G&L plant was further up inside the CP's shops complex opened in 1869. Much later (too late for this cover) there was a far larger General Foundry along 6th Street near E and D streets.
A bronze mallet would be most likely used by an engineer or round house mechanic to check the tension of a steam locomotive's connecting and main rods bearings.
While inspecting and oiling around the engine he would tap each rod connection at the point where the rod was fitted over each driving wheel's pin and listen for a particular sound; he should hear a metallic thud or clunk-sound rather than a loose ringing "clank". The latter noise would generally confirm what the engineer would have already noticed while the engine was running...a distinctive, repetitive clanking from the rods which said a bearing was too worn and needed taking-up or renewal.
Many enginemen carried a steel ball-peen hammer in their grip, but a bronze mallet head would be better since it's softer and would work as well for the normal purposes.
K. V. Bunker, Portland OR
From: "Ivan & Catherine Oakeson" catrine26@aol.com
Subject: CPRR Plate
Thanks for helping us with the pictures we sent earlier. I sincerely appreciate it.
I'm sending two more photos of cover plates [see above] that we haven't been able to find any information on. The broken CPRR we were told was an early prototype that didn't work out and haven't been able to verify that.
Also, the other plate with the 1867 patent date we haven't been able to find any information on or which railroad this one is associated with.
Thanks again.
From: kylewyatt@aol.com
Both of the illustrated objects are car journal box lids. I would not call the first "unsuccessful" – it was used on a great many cars in the 1870's.
—Kyle
From: "Mauro Lopez" mauroplopez@yahoo.com
Found in west Texas (old Southern Pacific line) a plaque – has "CPRR 1865." It's a journal cover. What can you tell me about this?
Post a Comment
<< Recent Messages