Big crank?

HAPPYCAMPER · Jun 16, 2015

Always dragging something home to throw on the shed,today was no different.About 4 feet long,doesnt appear "homemade"...any thoughts on what it cranked?..Found at cellar hole thats shown on mid to late 1800s maps.

mojjax · Jun 16, 2015

That is a cool find !

mojjax · Jun 16, 2015

Maybe for a water main valve ?

HAPPYCAMPER · Jun 16, 2015

Was at a cellar hole a good half mile out an old road only get to it by 4wd.May have been thrown there later on,but was up in woods behind homesite.

mojjax said:
Maybe for a water main valve ?

Tedyoh · Jun 16, 2015

My father has an old tractor, a McCormick Farm All, early 40's, im pretty sure it has a crank mounted on the frame to start the motor as a back up in case the battery was dead.

sutphin · Jun 16, 2015

YOU MEAN A WRIST BREAKER. OURS WAS MOUNTED TO THE ENGINE AND IF YOU DID NO LET GO FAST ENOUGH IT WOULD DANG NEAR TEAR IT FROM YOUR ARM...........ZUTPHEN. BUT I THOUGHT AT FIRST YOU HAD A CRANK FOR A WELL BUCKET.

maxpower · Jun 18, 2015

My 56 Fordson has a crank as well as my 42 Allis Chalmers however that crank does not look like any tractor crank i know?

fowledup · Jun 18, 2015

ive seen counter boring and core sampling tools that were similar in shape and size

2Minnesota · Jun 18, 2015

Model A?

Tony in SC · Jun 19, 2015

It's not heavy enough to be an engine crank. Looks like a windless for a water well. The pointed end would be driven into a log or other piece of round wood so a water bucket could be raised up. Tony

Ant · Jun 19, 2015

I would guess a linkage to something, maybe farm equipment. Most engine hand cranks would have a kickout notch cut into the end or a ratcheting end. My other thought was jack crank handle.

tamrock · Jun 19, 2015

I agree with T in SC, not a very heavy duty crank. An old awning crank comes to my mind. Preservation Brief 44: The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings, Repair, Replacement and New Design
Back in the day one would find a verity of hand crank appliances, tools and machinery on the farm, due to the lack of electricity, so it could have been made for a number of applications.