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Incredible old hydraulic jack --

Started by goodfellow, Aug 14, 2025, 10:09 AM

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goodfellow

Like many of you good folks, I have had quite a few hydraulic jacks over the years. I bought some new, rebuilt some junkers to new condition, and traded a few as well. This brings me to this little gem. This was my first personal jack. I was going to college and having access to dad's hydraulic jacks was limited, hence I stopped at a local Dart Drug store and purchased my very own portable 1-1/2 ton hydraulic jack for $19.

For those of you who didn't grow up in the DC/Baltimore region, Dart Drug was part of the Haft family empire that dominated the DC area for many decades. A very entrepreneurial family (albeit plagued by constant family infighting) that also owned Total Auto Parts, Total Beverage, Shoppers Food Warehouse, and Crown Books.

Dart Drug wasn't just a drug store. They sold prescription drugs. groceries, general merchandise, and also stocked good hardware and automotive supplies. At one time they were everywhere in the DC/Baltimore corridor.  -- I do miss that company.

The important thing to note is that Dart was one of the first retailers that imported and sold Taiwanese automotive equipment on a large scale in our area. It was cheap and Harry Homeowner could get value for his tool budget by going with the cheaper Taiwanese offerings. I needed a jack that was portable and smaller to store away easily. This one fit the bill. Over the years that followed, it helped me service countless vehicles.



This morning my daughter was stranded on the road with a flat tire while going to work. She called me and asked if I could help her out. No problem!! While packing up I didn't want to lug a large frame jack with me when I remembered the old portable one in the corner. To my surprise it still worked flawlessly. I bought it in 1975, hence it's celebrating its 50th year in my various garages. All the other jacks came and went, but this one always seemed to get the job done. Haven't touched it and never serviced it. I've overloaded it, bent it a bit, and it still works.



For a cheap $19 Taiwanese jack, this is probably one of the best tools I've ever purchased. It's amazing to think that the seals are still holding up some 50 years after its manufacture.




Thanks to old Herbert Haft and his Dart Drug group for importing these little gems all those many years ago.


Somebody hold my beer.....

Uncle Buck

Cool story and history on the jack Ray. Even light weight imports can be a lifesaver if they are needed in remote locations like you shared!
Better hold onto something boys cause i'm fixin ta stand on it!

1965 Comet Caliente

Yours reminded me of this Hein Warner I picked up a few years ago for $50 from the original owner.  Great jack, works like a charm.



Ran when parked

goodfellow

#3
That is a nice Jack. Mid-size and easy to maneuver -- definitely a keeper. I've passed on some similar HW light/medium duty models because most of them were just too clapped out to bother. That's the problem with good jacking equipment. It often gets used and abused because it works so well.

Somebody hold my beer.....

Elroy

The ole Hein-Werner..........never heard of them.
Sorry that was a lie. Been through a few of them over the years. Lots of rebuild pictures at the "urinal"

goodfellow

As always. Elroy's jack restos are top notch.

Somebody hold my beer.....

Uncle Buck

I still have a Hein Warner torn down and needing finished! I was going to ship the bottle the Elroy for a rebuild. I just got sidetracked like I do so often.

I need to check with Elroy and see if a first rate Elroy rebuild is still an option! LOL! 😁

Better hold onto something boys cause i'm fixin ta stand on it!

goodfellow

#7
Quote from: Uncle Buck on Aug 17, 2025, 08:40 PMI still have a Hein Warner torn down and needing finished! I was going to ship the bottle the Elroy for a rebuild. I just got sidetracked like I do so often.

I need to check with Elroy and see if a first rate Elroy rebuild is still an option! LOL! 😁



Just disassemble it yourself Herb. Most common US and Japanese model rebuild kits are available on Amazon. That said, the old Walker and HW designs used very cheap off-the-shelf seals, O-rings, and wipers. Rebuilding them is not a big deal. Also plenty of youTube vids out there now that go through the entire process.

Good luck!

Somebody hold my beer.....

Uncle Buck

Quote from: goodfellow on Aug 18, 2025, 06:22 AM
Quote from: Uncle Buck on Aug 17, 2025, 08:40 PMI still have a Hein Warner torn down and needing finished! I was going to ship the bottle the Elroy for a rebuild. I just got sidetracked like I do so often.

I need to check with Elroy and see if a first rate Elroy rebuild is still an option! LOL! 😁



Just disassemble it yourself Herb. Most common US and Japanese model rebuild kits are available on Amazon. That said, the old Walker and HW designs used very cheap off-the-shelf seals, O-rings, and wipers. Rebuilding them is not a big deal. Also plenty of youTube vids out there now that go through the entire process.

Good luck!


Oh I am not stranger to rebuilding them Ray. In fact, I suppose I probably should. My list of rebuilt bottles includes
(1) porta power
(4) bottle jacks
(6-7) floor jacks, two of which were Walker long frame service jacks
(3) end lift jacks, one a Walker and the other two Blackhawks

I never seemed to fail to get them working. That said, I seem to recall Elroy took some extra pains and measures that went beyond what I did
in my rerebuilds.

But ya, I probably will just buy a kit and do it myself. The whole jack has been torn down for years. I just need to get after it.
Better hold onto something boys cause i'm fixin ta stand on it!

wilbilt

Quote from: goodfellow on Aug 14, 2025, 10:09 AMLike many of you good folks, I have had quite a few hydraulic jacks over the years. I bought some new, rebuilt some junkers to new condition, and traded a few as well. This brings me to this little gem. This was my first personal jack. I was going to college and having access to dad's hydraulic jacks was limited, hence I stopped at a local Dart Drug store and purchased my very own portable 1-1/2 ton hydraulic jack for $19.

For those of you who didn't grow up in the DC/Baltimore region, Dart Drug was part of the Haft family empire that dominated the DC area for many decades. A very entrepreneurial family (albeit plagued by constant family infighting) that also owned Total Auto Parts, Total Beverage, Shoppers Food Warehouse, and Crown Books.

Dart Drug wasn't just a drug store. They sold prescription drugs. groceries, general merchandise, and also stocked good hardware and automotive supplies. At one time they were everywhere in the DC/Baltimore corridor.  -- I do miss that company.

The important thing to note is that Dart was one of the first retailers that imported and sold Taiwanese automotive equipment on a large scale in our area. It was cheap and Harry Homeowner could get value for his tool budget by going with the cheaper Taiwanese offerings. I needed a jack that was portable and smaller to store away easily. This one fit the bill. Over the years that followed, it helped me service countless vehicles.



This morning my daughter was stranded on the road with a flat tire while going to work. She called me and asked if I could help her out. No problem!! While packing up I didn't want to lug a large frame jack with me when I remembered the old portable one in the corner. To my surprise it still worked flawlessly. I bought it in 1975, hence it's celebrating its 50th year in my various garages. All the other jacks came and went, but this one always seemed to get the job done. Haven't touched it and never serviced it. I've overloaded it, bent it a bit, and it still works.



For a cheap $19 Taiwanese jack, this is probably one of the best tools I've ever purchased. It's amazing to think that the seals are still holding up some 50 years after its manufacture.




Thanks to old Herbert Haft and his Dart Drug group for importing these little gems all those many years ago.




I have one very similar I bought at Builders Emporium in Simi Valley, CA shortly after Buying my 1967 Chevelle SS 396 in about 1979. It traveled with me to Nor Cal in 1985, but stopped working shortly thereafter. I bought another one, a cheap jack from AutoZone or similar.

A few years ago, I found the old jack was working again. And then it stopped pumping.

I still have it. I might investigate the issue when I have the time.

j.a.f.e.

I remember Builders Emporium! I also remember Pops Larsen (for those of you not familiar he was 
sort of the mascot).
Words my mother told me: Never trust anyone in a better mood than you are.

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking - General George S. Patton