WANTED: Fireside "A" Crane

[cweastlick]

I'm looking for a crane for my Fireside model A. It is the small one that fits in the hole on top near the 2/4 gearing. Thanks!

[Jerry B.]

An original might be semi difficult to find. A Sitko replacement is very nice and I believe it's a two piece one like the originals. But if you're a touch handy make your own.

1-Take your Fireside to a welding supply srore.
2-Buy a rod that exactly fits the hole. You'll have choices for the metal rod. I like brass. It looks nice and is easy to work. If you are making a crane for a Gem and the Gem has a smaller hole, pick something besides brass. The small brass rod will bend like a fishing pole with fish on with the weight of a horn..
3-Place the rod in a vice with about 5" below the jaws of the vice. The vice just needs to hold the rod firmly so not too tight.
4-Take a length of steel pipe, size not too important but smaller the better, and slip the pipe over the long length of your brass rod.
5-With the steel pipe over the brass rod and resting on the vice pull the pipe towards you until you get an angle you like. You should have a bent rod with a nice crisp angle at the bend.
6-Put your crane in the hole on the Fireside. With a length of small chain on the Fireside M/G horn and with a rubber connector attached at the small end of the horn, hold it up to the crane to estimate where to cut the long portion of the brass rod. Cut the rod.
7-Vices have a flat area where something can be hammered. Place the tip of the freshly cut rod on the vice and smack it with a hammer. After a few smacks turn and smack the other side. I suggest making the flat spot look vertical when it's in the Fireside hole.
8-Drill a small hole in the flat spot to attach the chain.
9-Now you have a crane. It should look nice and be very functional plus you have some of yourself invested in your project at a minimal cost.

Jerry Blais

[cweastlick]

Sounds simple enough! I appreciate the step by step instructions!!