Although most of the pix here show an old style 25 in the background, the focus of this page is the pink colored (or faded red?) 50 pound hammer.
After talking with the Princeton Mn owner of this hammer for a while, I convinced him to call Roger Rice at Little Giant to learn more about it.
He did, and it turns out that Roger hadn't seen this exact design either. He says it is serial number 197, made in 1900.
It is really interesting to me, because most of us have seen most of the individual components that make up this hammer, but never ALL
on the same Little Giant Hammer.
Some of the characteristics to ponder:
- Through-Hole in the frame:
We have seen these in some other early hammers.
- Driven Pulley on the crankshaft, NO CLUTCH, with belt tightener/idler pulley:
Personally, I have seen this sort of drive on other hammers, but not on Little Giant/Mayer Bros. hammers.
-Ram of the "Late Model" Mayer Bros. style with Ram guided at the sides:
This part is really interesting to me because well after the year 1900, the Mayer Bros, were still using the "Wrap Around Guide"
on the 50 pound hammers, as far as I know.
-Crankplate Stroke Adjustment:
Again, I have seen this method of stroke adjustment on other hammers, but not on Mayer Bros. Mankato units.
-Blocky appearance of the left toggle arm:
Almost looks like it may have been forged, rather than cast. This could have been done by a previous owner, but Sid once told me that,
for the Easy Hammer at least, that he thought the company may have forged them for a while before starting to cast them.