[TheForge] Manual shears and punches

[PlumDon at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/11/2005 6:41:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,  rniemi@
fidalgo.net writes:

I have a  1913 catalog showing a Buffalo manual 
ironworker that will cut 2" square  bar, but the 1913 price was $400. In 
today's dollars that would be   something like $7500
 
Perhaps I did not fully consider the price relationships in thinking I  might 
get something more reasonable. My 1920 Champion catalogue lists a shear  that 
will cut 1/2" x 4" or 1" round or square for $80. At your calculation that  
would mean the $80 item would be about $1900 today. You are certainly correct  
that the better option then would be something hydraulic. 
 
I wonder what ever happened to all those big manual contraptions. Did they  
go for the war effort or are they tucked away somewhere?
 
Thanks, Ries
 
Don Plummer