OldTools Archive

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263042 Erik Levin 2017‑08‑21 Re: Once more into the breach
Claudio ruminated:

>
>On Tue, Aug 15, 2017 at 2:18 PM, scott grandstaff wrote:>> 
>> I have my old wooden ladder under my back porch. 
>> Kind of a metaphor for us old Galoots. 
>> 
>>​>That kind of ladder is what I call a "widowmaker".>


and James followed with:
> NOBODY griped when aluminum ladders started to show up on the jobsites.
Interestingly enough, a few years ago, at one of the jobs I still hold, I was
charged with the position of Safety Officer. Might still hold it. One of the
tasks required by our oversight agency was a full inventory and inspection of
all tools, machines, gear, and equipment falling under OSHA regs (1910, 1915,
and 1926) which includes, unsurprisingly, ladders. You might note that 1915 is
shipyard. This might give a cue to some where this is going.

I had looked at these ladders from afar, as they were stored in a back corner of
the shop/warehouse when not out on site. I had seen them on the longbed truck
going out or coming in, long enough that they hung off the back while also being
propped over the roof of the cab (old truck, as well as old tools, by the way).
I had never looked at them closely. The ceiling of the structure was
sufficiently higher than the 24 foot elevation the forklift maxed out at, and
the ladders-- step ladders, a frame-- were jammed in the corner where the roof
met the wall.
They were big. 

Real big.
Real, real big. 

And wood.
And old.
After I got done with the modern fibreglass ladders (step and extension),
condemning a couple due to cracks and damages supports, threw the remains of one
of the aluminum extensions into the scrap skip, and went over the wood
extensions (all good) and smaller wood steps, I got to these big boys.

Sleepy (yup, that is the only name I knew him by. He stopped showing up one day,
saving the trouble of firing him) was the only helper in  the shop, and we
wrestled these bad boys out and managed to spread and stand them. They just
cleared the roof by enough to stand them.

On the ground before spreading, there were no clear indications of any issue.
The only markings indicated that they were shop constructed in the 1940's (OT
content). They still met all standards in the regulations for shop constructed
wooden ladders. Fasteners all looked good. Every rung solid, and a few had been
replaced. Spreaders --wood, by the way-- solid and properly pinned. Every
fastener good.
 There were two.
They were.... majestic.
Of all the gear in the place, I think these behemoths might have been the only
things that got universal respect, though there were a few that got universal
fear.

Even the 12 footers had some issues. These guys, nothing.

Then it came time to climb. I won't sing the paper if I won't climb it.  Up one
step. Two. three.... All the way to the top. Solid as a rock. I climbed down and
went up the second one. Same thing. Only problem I found was one of the tool
trays flipped rather than bracing against the step due to the ends of bars being
beaten over the years. At the time, I was near my maximum tonnage, well over
200lbs (nearly 100Kg). These were like standing on the deck of an aircraft
carrier in drydock. Solid. NOTHING like a fibreglass or aluminum unit. I had no
problem signing the report and tagging them in service.
A couple years later, the shop moved into a new, smaller, space. I have no idea
where those ladders are now. I know they moved, as they were in the yard for a
while, out in the weather. I think they spent some time on their sides on the
ground (bad for a wood ladder). Then... I don't know. I just don't know. I may
have to ask about their fate one day.

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