# Help ID OLD Shop Machine

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-old-shop-machine/729438>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 30, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-old-shop-machine/729438 "2015-08-30T22:25:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-old-shop-machine/729438/21 "2015-09-04T00:44:54Z")

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> [@Napier](#):
>
> Pneumatics would be surprising for such a machine, as air cylinders store a great deal of energy when they develop big forces. They’re springy. Hydraulic cylinders don’t, as liquids are practically incompressible in comparison to gasses.
> 
> You don’t want big stored energy in a tool like this. If something goes wrong, an air cylinder would propel massive shrapnel all over the place, killing people and whatnot.
> 
> When something goes wrong on a hydraulic, system, there’s a sort of “klunk” noise, but no need for sirens.
> 
> Imagine breaking the frame of your shop vise (as I did recently). Suddenly it’s in two pieces divided by a big crack. You have to replace the vise, but not your body parts. Now imagine doing the same thing when you have compressed a gigantic spring way down flat. Not pretty.

But, whatever the dis-advantages, trains and machine shops used pnuumatic power, not hydraulic power.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-old-shop-machine/729438/22 "2015-09-04T01:43:08Z")

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It is neither dental nor photographic equipment.  
I got nuthin.😕

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**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-old-shop-machine/729438/23 "2015-09-04T01:58:27Z")

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I got some interesting info of the OWWM forum,  
One poster claims this is a; [It is a steam powered upsetter. You use it for shaping a new End on a rock drill. or a star drill].  
There was another poster that used the Term Upsetter and that was in forming heads on bolts or rivets.  
I have posted several more pictures on the link  
[Here](http://www.nashwauk.net/ShopMachines.html)

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**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-old-shop-machine/729438/24 "2015-09-04T02:34:49Z")

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[Found here,](http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-ingersoll-rand-mining-drill-249939422)

And when I replied to my Manager when he asked I told him that its a drill sharpener.  
That reply must have come from being told at one time and I just didn’t look into what I was told. OR, WAG’s are occasionally correct :smack:

Thanks all for the help. 🙂

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