A Nice Vulcan Hammer Model From One of its Users

by Don Warrington, posted in The Products

Models of Vulcan hammers–working or otherwise–are rare. This one comes from the Boston area, made by one of the pile drivers who worked the Boston waterfront. It is a real gem; I have not seen one this good in a long time.

  • The “front” view of the hammer model. Traditionally Vulcan hammers were run with the steam chest in the leaders. Note the detail, including the “Chicago” note on the cylinder.
  • The steam chest side of the hammer model.
  • A really good indicator of the quality of a hammer model has always been, “does the ram move?” In this case it does! Note the detail on this side of the model as well, including the sliding slide bar and trip.
  • A close-up of the steam chest, showing the trip (which actually rotates) and the wedge on the slide bar.
  • A side view of the steam chest, again note the detail on the trip.
The hammer model, from the Boston area. I am deeply indebted to Wanda Cetrone for sending this to me; it was her cousin which made this many years ago.

Other Hammer Models

  • The classic desk hammer models from Vulcan, the 80C on the left and the 3100 on the right. Looking from the front side of the hammer (80C) and the back (3100.)
  • The steam chest side of the 80C and 3100 models from Vulcan; many of these graced a contractor’s or distributor’s desk over the years.
  • The 1970’s were the most active years for Vulcan at OTC. New products were coming out regularly — such as the 560 in 1971 — and the “energy crisis” elevated prices, making supplying the oilfield a lucrative proposition (if the raw materials were available!) Vulcan’s booth reflected this with the frequent changes, the hospitality suites and models, and most importantly the frequent visitors from Vulcan’s user base. Vulcan’s booth at the 1972 OTC, showing the 560 hammer and a model platform. The 560 hammer model is still in use by Vulcan Foundation Equipment; the platform, which took up most of the booth, was donated the following year to the Petroleum Engineering Department of Texas A&M University.
  • A model of the MRBS steam hammer in its guide cage, at the 1975 Offshore Technology Conference.
  • A model of the Vulcan IC-65 Hammer.
  • Not all Vulcan hammers in the field were full size. This scale, working model of a Vulcan 200C was mode of brass by Frits Teerling, Brown & Root’s redoubtable equipment superintendent.

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