Mystery tool identification

[Greg_Lewis]

I checked two Maintenance of Way Cyclopedias, one 1915 and one 1921 and neither showed this tool. Below are screen shots of the spike puller and another that is a long crowbar like tool with a short notched foot. The text says the claw bar is for pulling spikes with or without the spike puller. I support ChipsAhoy's guess that it's a chain binder.

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[Charles T. McCullough]

Web searches for Chain Binders produced lots of images of similar looking tools, but none really close enough to call it a Chain Binder.

BUT... web searches for Spike pullers, produced many images of the same looking tool as the one in question.

Along with many of those multi knob Spike Pullers and a couple of photos using the "Claw-Bar" to fit under one of the knobs to adjust for the height of the fulcrum of the leverage. Even a couple of photos of 4 and 5 knob Spike Pullers!

Unfortunately, no images of the tool in question being used.

[Bill Shields]

The original railroad multi purpose tool

[ChipsAhoy]

Another clue...

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Scotty

[Greg_Lewis]

Hm. Does it look like the "car wrench" in the above?

Web searches for Chain Binders produced lots of images of similar looking tools, but none really close enough to call it a Chain Binder.

BUT... web searches for Spike pullers, produced many images of the same looking tool as the one in question.

Along with many of those multi knob Spike Pullers and a couple of photos using the "Claw-Bar" to fit under one of the knobs to adjust for the height of the fulcrum of the leverage. Even a couple of photos of 4 and 5 knob Spike Pullers!

Unfortunately, no images of the tool in question being used.

Here's the rub: It is possible that the images are labelled based on some previous misidentification. Google can deliver wrong answers. A photo of the tool in use would solve the question.

[Charles T. McCullough]

Yes, previous misidentification is a strong possibility. That is why I mentioned no images of the tool in use. I am sure a photo of the tool (the one in question) in use, would solve the problem.