Vintage Solid Brass Lock Key or Windlass ?

[David Schweizer]

Thats ace....

 

The sound tracks are probably lifted directly from the BBC record "Narrowboats" which includes all the tracks listed on the label..

[Theo]

 

Are any windlasses made of cast iron? Wouldn't it be too brittle and the one in the photo seems to have a bent handle?

My favourite use all the time windlass is cast. You can see the print of the moulding sand and where the sprues have been ground off. It has two squares and operates all the gear that I have applied it to except the stupid swing bridge at Sheffield Victoria Quays. I see the point about cast iron, though. Peerhaps mine is cast steel. I have dropped in on the concrete a few times without ill effects.

 

Yes, many of the standard windlasses used on hire boats over a large number of years were just cast iron.

 

Yes. The windlass anorak lock keeper at the Bratch tol me that it was from a hire boat.

[ditchcrawler]

 

Yes. The windlass anorak lock keeper at the Bratch tol me that it was from a hire boat.

Gave him half a dozen last time we went through and he gave my grandson a fiver for them

[Timleech]

My favourite use all the time windlass is cast. You can see the print of the moulding sand and where the sprues have been ground off. It has two squares and operates all the gear that I have applied it to except the stupid swing bridge at Sheffield Victoria Quays. I see the point about cast iron, though. Peerhaps mine is cast steel. I have dropped in on the concrete a few times without ill effects.

 

 

I think the 'cast' windlasses will generally be steel rather than iron. Cast iron would be too brittle, and in any case a magnet wouldn't pick them up very well when you drop them in

 

Tim

[Ray T]

They were getting silly money on ebay for a bit iirc one went for about £150 or something ridiculous

 

Got this off eBay £26, last week.

 

 

 

It has lots of "dings" and looks well used. I have contacted to seller to ask of any history.

 

I don't think it is a Boatman's copy of a Neal as the head is different.

 

It looks similar to a Neal but doesn't have the arrow. It is not brass but an alloy of some sort. The colour is more bright gold than a Boatman's.

 

With a Boatmans one.

 

 

 

I found it in an obscure advert.

 

ETA from seller:

 

New message from: nouveau4you (121) no mate had it1975 it was not new then johney

Reply

Edited September 14, 2016 by Ray T

[Jerra]

 

It is not brass but an alloy of some sort.

I always thought Brass was an alloy - of copper and zinc.

[Ray T]

I always thought Brass was an alloy - of copper and zinc.

 

Sorry, I meant not pure brass, It may be a bronze alloy. Brass is relatively "soft" this isn't.

Edited September 14, 2016 by Ray T

[Jerra]

 

Sorry, I meant not pure brass, I may be a bronze alloy. Brass is realtively "soft" this isn't.

I must admit I wouldn't have thought brass was a good material strength wise.

[Bee]

Vintage Solid Brass Lock Key or Windlass ?

 

Oh really ?

 

Why have they apparently felt it necessary to galvanise brass, then?

 

 

I think it is also bent.....

 

So it doesn't rust silly

[magnetman]

 

Got this off eBay £26, last week.

 

DSCF2997.JPG

 

It has lots of "dings" and looks well used. I have contacted to seller to ask of any history.

 

I don't think it is a Boatman's copy of a Neal as the head is different.

 

It looks similar to a Neal but doesn't have the arrow. It is not brass but an alloy of some sort. The colour is more bright gold than a Boatman's.

 

With a Boatmans one.

 

DSCF2998.JPG

 

I found it in an obscure advert.

 

ETA from seller:

New message from: nouveau4you (121) no mate had it1975 it was not new then johney

 

Reply

Answered you on the spon lane history thread

 

60s I reckon.