Champion Star Tire and Axle Upsetter and Welding Machine

 

The Champion Star Tire and Axle Upsetter and Welding Machine was manufactured by the Champion Blower and Forge Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  They are well very known for their blacksmithing forges which are found in many antique blacksmith shops.  The sole purpose of this machine was to hold two pieces of metal, e.g. the ends of wooden wagon wheel rims, while they were being worked.  It is a lot of machine for a simple task, but they were used at “upscale” smithies of the day and were a large labor-saving device. 

 

The machine came with a seven-part set of simple instructions.  The seventh part being:  “Do as much heavy pounding on machine as may be necessary”.  Good words of advice.  How often have you solved a problem by whacking on something with a hammer until it worked?  Instructions manuals just aren’t what they used to be.