Subject: Re: Champion hand-cranked blowers

From: "David C. Hufford" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 01 Apr 1996 06:58:09 -0500 (EST)

Pat:

Free-standing Champion 400 blowers are fairly common.  A typical price 
is about $75-$100 depending upon condition.  I wouldn't pay more than 
$100 for a good one.  Give it a good crank, and hear/feel how the gears 
work.  If it moves freely and sounds/feels smooth, it's probably OK.  If 
you get a good one of these and keep it lubed, it will last your 
lifetime and beyond.  Centaur Forge stuff is expensive and most antique 
shops have blacksmithing items priced too high.  Sadly, many antique 
shops and fleamarkets have blowers which are beyond reasonable repair 
and not worth the price.  With the Champion blowers, get one which is in 
good condition and runs smooth; while they can be cleaned-up and the 
bearings adjusted somewhat, you do NOT what to have to try to 
disassemble one of these critters for attempted repair or refurbishing.  
They look simple, but there are many horror stories from those who have 
tried to take them apart.  The smaller rivet or farm forges with 
attached blower are a good alternative.  They're portable and a great deal 
of forging can be done with one of these units.

David C. Hufford

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From: Tom Vincent <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 18:07:58 -0600 (CST)

You know, Buffalo only quit making these in 1992. Is it a worthwhile 
project to try to coax them back into limited production? Tom