Featured Old jack - any info?

I remember my Dad used this to level our cottage many moons ago before it was wiped out by the Vermilion River flood of 1969. (http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/swio/pages/content/1969_flood.htm)
He always told me to make sure I get it out of his shed. Well sadly he passed on June 28th and I finally brought it home. Don't know much about it but made with heavy cast iron parts. Any info would be appreciated. Looks like this would be in @springfld.arsenal knowledge area. 17" tall but extends to 27" tall.
I think my dad used to call it a "Railroad Jack" ?

 

You have the makers name, model number, and lift capacity right on the jack. You can look up the company name on google to get some history of the company itself, and also to see some sold/not sold jacks from others. Patent number lookup might help give an earliest time it could have been made.

Its a standard jack. It lifts heavy things.

 

This catalog page shows a very similar if not identical jack.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1939-ADV...-Jack-Screw-Jacks-Journal-50-Ton/311400018862

And patent information:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US1918934A/en

And a similar 10 ton model: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/nice-duff-norton-co-10-ton-railroad-jack-1022

They call it a railroad jack but I notice the catalog page says nothing for that application.

 

I'm reading about it - yes it's a jack.
Wondering if though, what foundry logo that is in the 6th picture and if all the parts were cast at the same foundry - or is it impossible to tell? Some parts were numbered with sprig letters on the patterns and others were numbered using embossed metal tape.
Closest date I can find it when it was assembled is 1954 - but they all look pretty much the same

 

Did you look at the catalog page I linked? Dated 1939. They list a model 516. Not sure how long they produced them for.

You'd need to email duff-norton and see if they have a historian for specific part manufacturing details I would imagine. Though you might be able to find that M marking with some digging.

 

They started making the 516 early then I think everytime they updated it a Letter was added after the 516. I'm pretty sure that the 516M's were made in early 50's. Still searching info. If that's the case then I wonder if my Dad bought it new as I was born 1959 and I remember being at the cottage at age 5 or 6

 

Was expecting to see this...

 

I'm sorry for your loss....

No one can say your Dad didn't know ' Jack ' !!

Nice jack !!!

 

Thanks. 94

No, of course mine doesn't have as much value but sure does look better!

 

I found a better looking old jack.

 

The 3 names I see most often for these:

Toe Jack
Ratchet Jack
Railroad Jack

 

@Rayo56, So sorry for your loss.....Blessings,
Sue