Fake Railwayana

[minister_for_hardship]

Note weasel words "vintage style", "antique style", auctioneer code for "fake".

[minister_for_hardship]

How is it a "railway" hatchet?

I'm convinced auctioneers are just calling random objects "railway" to make them more saleable.

[Galteemore]

1 hour ago, minister_for_hardship said:

How is it a "railway" hatchet?

I'm convinced auctioneers are just calling random objects "railway" to make them more saleable.

Just be grateful it wasn’t listed as ‘Beeching’s Axe’

[Broithe]

Out of interest, I Googled 'railway hatchet' and saw quite a few hatchety things, all different, under that description. Some had initials stamped on them that corresponded to initials used by railway companies. Whether that connection was real or not, though, I couldn't say.

I did work with a chap called Steve Smith, who used to stamp all his own tools with his initials. I expect them to start turning up for sale as WW2 memorabilia...

 

It does seem possible, though, that railways could have carried such devices, for improving entry/exit of vehicles in the event of crashes, etc. It certainly was the case on aircraft, where you could chop your way in, or out, through the skin, if the door mechanisms were out of action. 

[Galteemore]

1 minute ago, Broithe said:

Out of interest, I Googled 'railway hatchet' and saw quite a few hatchety things, all different, under that description. Some had initials stamped on them that corresponded to initials used by railway companies. Whether that connection was real or not, though, I couldn't say.

I did work with a chap called Steve Smith, who used to stamp all his own tools with his initials. I expect them to start turning up for sale as WW2 memorabilia...

 

It does seem possible, though, that railways could have carried such devices, for improving entry/exit of vehicles in the event of crashes, etc. It certainly was the case on aircraft, where you could chop your way in, or out, through the skin, if the door mechanisms were out of action. 

Standard fixture on RAF bombers in WW2, and many railway guards vans had axes IIRC.

[Broithe]

4 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Standard fixture on RAF bombers in WW2, and many railway guards vans had axes IIRC.

I have one in the garage somewhere. I may find it during my current domestic archaeology process.

[minister_for_hardship]

4 hours ago, Broithe said:

Out of interest, I Googled 'railway hatchet' and saw quite a few hatchety things, all different, under that description. Some had initials stamped on them that corresponded to initials used by railway companies. Whether that connection was real or not, though, I couldn't say.

I did work with a chap called Steve Smith, who used to stamp all his own tools with his initials. I expect them to start turning up for sale as WW2 memorabilia...

 

It does seem possible, though, that railways could have carried such devices, for improving entry/exit of vehicles in the event of crashes, etc. It certainly was the case on aircraft, where you could chop your way in, or out, through the skin, if the door mechanisms were out of action. 

Crowbar, rope, saw, axe I believe were carried for emergencies. A hatchet would pretty useless. These things would be recorded and invariably be marked with company initials to deter theft.

The auction lot hatchet blade, looking closely, is marked 'GNRI' but could be easily faked with letter punches.

[DERAILED]

Another crude fake on eBay for a mere £145 - from a reputable seller - I have advised them. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326344903438?_skw=IRELAND+RAILWAY&itmmeta=01JD4BRGKG7F6G39QT9ZFTCSNY&hash=item4bfbac0b0e:g:Dr8AAOSwyz1nPN-x&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkK%2BDdS5m%2FL1znQhd8KqGJA1lixRzG2IH%2F4yjNczGnONu%2B%2BFYuvQoz7vJBevXH9lSUNp1ZL9TKsmk4ed2rMwzUmAsVlzgtYHOcKoWfpfwkD%2FNEVZPW9QlT63wA%2B5Hp3lj8hac0%2B0AFe2aIkVwcqDqTe0kE4qBYbJY78yp8RWXUu1tuljBbgQymtY0Kgj2LowFwZRtE7SaqbzLquRJnLG8gcvCUV2amxh0VL6JpDax6MT03ehG%2BrzAYovpNitbTQrhE9ruUc%2FfUzalKZDsQvn8KpcXB2Qe5H%2FV4Fh%2BnrxEXNEw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-yJ4ovpZA

[amdaley]

32 minutes ago, DERAILED said:

Another crude fake on eBay for a mere £145 - from a reputable seller - I have advised them. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326344903438?_skw=IRELAND+RAILWAY&itmmeta=01JD4BRGKG7F6G39QT9ZFTCSNY&hash=item4bfbac0b0e:g:Dr8AAOSwyz1nPN-x&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkK%2BDdS5m%2FL1znQhd8KqGJA1lixRzG2IH%2F4yjNczGnONu%2B%2BFYuvQoz7vJBevXH9lSUNp1ZL9TKsmk4ed2rMwzUmAsVlzgtYHOcKoWfpfwkD%2FNEVZPW9QlT63wA%2B5Hp3lj8hac0%2B0AFe2aIkVwcqDqTe0kE4qBYbJY78yp8RWXUu1tuljBbgQymtY0Kgj2LowFwZRtE7SaqbzLquRJnLG8gcvCUV2amxh0VL6JpDax6MT03ehG%2BrzAYovpNitbTQrhE9ruUc%2FfUzalKZDsQvn8KpcXB2Qe5H%2FV4Fh%2BnrxEXNEw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-yJ4ovpZA

I'm not expert on these signs so how can you tell if they're fake ?

[minister_for_hardship]

13 minutes ago, amdaley said:

I'm not expert on these signs so how can you tell if they're fake ?

The real deal, looks nothing like the one pictured above.

[DERAILED]

Apart from there never having been such a MGWR sign - the first two letters top left don't match the others, the spacing is wrong, there's no wear around the bolt holes and the sign in general shows no wear. It's based on the standard GSWR gate sign with the G.S. & ground off and two new letters added before casting to make the new sign.

[jhb171achill]

13 hours ago, DERAILED said:

Another crude fake on eBay for a mere £145 - from a reputable seller - I have advised them. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326344903438?_skw=IRELAND+RAILWAY&itmmeta=01JD4BRGKG7F6G39QT9ZFTCSNY&hash=item4bfbac0b0e:g:Dr8AAOSwyz1nPN-x&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkK%2BDdS5m%2FL1znQhd8KqGJA1lixRzG2IH%2F4yjNczGnONu%2B%2BFYuvQoz7vJBevXH9lSUNp1ZL9TKsmk4ed2rMwzUmAsVlzgtYHOcKoWfpfwkD%2FNEVZPW9QlT63wA%2B5Hp3lj8hac0%2B0AFe2aIkVwcqDqTe0kE4qBYbJY78yp8RWXUu1tuljBbgQymtY0Kgj2LowFwZRtE7SaqbzLquRJnLG8gcvCUV2amxh0VL6JpDax6MT03ehG%2BrzAYovpNitbTQrhE9ruUc%2FfUzalKZDsQvn8KpcXB2Qe5H%2FV4Fh%2BnrxEXNEw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-yJ4ovpZA

Ah, the MCWR. Mullingar, Carlow & Waterloo Railway.

Seems legit.