Old Chain!!!

big tee · Jan 13, 2019

Saw this--A guy posted this picture of a chain his Dad in-law-who he never me- had hanging on his garage wall. Said it had 2 link sizes-2 bolts-5 repair links-broken hook and lots of stretched links. When I was a kid my Dad had 1 just like it only it was longer. It is hard to throw away an old friend. Memories---Tee

Janicholson · Jan 13, 2019

I have a 3' piece of hand forged chain and 1 hook that I cherish It was hanging on the back wall of a long gone shed. My user chain of choice is 5/16 X 16' with grab hooks. Jim

Moonlite37 · Jan 13, 2019

My most used chain is a six foot mix of pieces with hooks. I use on my loader bucket. It is worn bright from constant use. Very useful but of no cash value other than scrap.

D beatty · Jan 13, 2019

I still have several like that from when dad and I farmed. I use them around the place from time to time but all the chains on truck and trailer today are 5/16s or 3/8 grade 70.

RBoots · Jan 13, 2019

Looks like every chain my grandpa ever owned. Were of no use to me, and I didn't want someone grabbing one that didn't know better and try using it, so I sent them off with a load of short iron.

fixerupper · Jan 13, 2019

Its from an era when nothing was thrown away. I have a chain like that too but it’s on an old yard drag that is rarely used. That chain hanging on the wall might have been the only chain on the farm back in the day.

PJH · Jan 13, 2019

I have a few mates to that chain. One is used to chain the pen gate to the stock trailer while loading cattle. The post hole digger hangs from a couple more. There's always a static use for a short piece of chain.

tim s · Jan 13, 2019

Back in the days when we farmed with John Deere 60's we used chains like that,,,Now in the days of 4960's and 8330's you had better have the "Big" chains out..

DR. EVIL · Jan 13, 2019

Dad hauled Lots of livestock into the Chicago Stockyards in the late 1950's, all thru the '60's and into the early '70's. Somehow a yard man mentioned to Dad that the yards were throwing away lots of galvanizen 1/4" steel chain with grab hooks, some short chains and some much longer. I've still got 4-5 of them. Work great for lifting stuff with the loader. Or pulling stuff with the garden tractors. I've pulled with them pretty hard with the Super H with no problems, but one Dad must have really pulled with hard with the M, all the links were stretched. I have much bigger stronger chains I use to pull hard with the big tractors.

What good is a loader tractor without several chains to lift stuff with? Both Super H and M have loaders.

greenmech · Jan 13, 2019

That kind of looks like my first chain. Ron MN

Richard G. · Jan 13, 2019

I've got chains like that and all kinds of chains piled in my shop, some in truck, and some on a wood hauling trailer.
Never know when you need a piece of chain. I had a piece of anchor chain from a ship that I gave to a friend.
Richard in NW SC

flembo · Jan 13, 2019

My FIL did the same thing I have 3 of his chains here that are pieced together like that. I took them to make sure my step son wouldn't grab them and use them.

Russ from MN · Jan 13, 2019

That brings back memories! Most of the chains around our farm had at least one bolt connecting them.

Ellis Kinney · Jan 13, 2019

A friend used to work near Ashland, Ky where barges were were cut up to recycle. There seemed to be an abundance of chain from that operation that he occasionally brought me. I keep on every tractor and the dozer a chain shortener. Three links of chain and a hook on each end, to take up all the unnecessary slop when dragging logs. Ellis

wrenchere85 · Jan 13, 2019

Chains like that go for good money at auctions. I don't understand it you can buy new grade 70 cheaper.

Bob Bancroft · Jan 13, 2019

Every farm must have had them. I have sent several out with scrap steel. All sorts of repairs, hooks, links. etc. Blasted soft metal, as they're no good to me.

bcdave · Jan 13, 2019

When I got my trailer it was recommended I buy new chains. I bought all new Grade 70 chain. I don't use any straps. When I go through a DOT check the first thing they check is the inspection tag and then the chains.
Dave

Billy NY · Jan 13, 2019

Seen lots of them like that over the years, think have a least one with a bolt connecting the links, wall hanger, not a safe thing to use. I have a hand forged length from one of our old barns, was with a pulley that hung at the entrance to the mow above, off a beam sticking out in front of the double doors. Just a wall hanger too.

I was on a D5 doing some grading and a pair of fools were nearby towing a vibratory roller through some deep mud, they could have gone around on harder ground, it snapped and a piece of the link hit the upright on the R.O.P.S and left a dent. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I got hit in the head with it, narrowly missed me. At some point soon after I confronted the person about it during break time, ended up having a bit of a tussle over it. He ended up on the ground and got the worst of it before it was over and I found a new job the following Monday.

gab · Jan 13, 2019

Thought I was the king of busted chains and oddball hooks. I've got two nice chains I bought new but they're heavy to drag around and don't have the assortment of hooks.

504 · Jan 13, 2019

Those two T hooks on the right top are for tying down cars for transport.The old cars and trucks had holes in the frames to except those chains.

RedMF40 · Jan 13, 2019

I like chains. Don't have a lot of everyday use for them, but I like having a few around just in case. The antique and hand-forged ones I use for decoration or put them into an artsy project where strength is not an issue.

Picked up a very long length of what looks to be 1/8" with hooks at each end. When I measured it I think it was around 25 feet. Very heavy. It was at the end of a sale that went along with an antique machinery show, and the guy was packing up. Offered him ten bucks, and he said ok without hesitation. Really didn't want to pack up that heavy chain. Don't know what he was actually asking for it, but I would have been ok if he'd said no. Just hanging on my shop wall now.

T in NE · Jan 13, 2019

They work well for pulling the ends of a broken chain in a belt trailer back together, too.

Jim in rush co · Jan 13, 2019

Have you guys ever seen any chain hooks like these? Made for use with Grade 100 and 120 chain. These are for 3/8, the old rusty piece of chain probably G 70.

gab · Jan 13, 2019

I found a double hook thing with similar hooks as that, probably belongs on a frame machine.

2x4 · Jan 13, 2019

I collect every piece of chain I can get my hands on. Odd where they will come in handy. One old chain & hook appears to be all hand blacksmithed.

Jim in rush co · Jan 14, 2019

These were used for that purpose, will not damage the chain links as regular grab hook does.

BarryfromIA · Jan 14, 2019

The chains are interesting because we have used them most of our lives and now to government has all the different classes of chain for each purpose. This is another how did we survive the good old days type of thing.

Brian G. NY · Jan 14, 2019

Speaking of "old" chain, I have quite a few pieces lying around that were forged by a blacksmith.
These are the only pieces I could put my hands on readily.
I have a "grab" type hook as well as the "slip" type shown here...the "grab" hooks are pretty much flat with a long slot.
Now,if I could only remember where I put the other pieces I would post more pics.

Old Chain!!!

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