Ajax Hand Brake Co.
One of the most widely utilized vertical brake wheels was the
Ajax 3059 (5) introduced in 1929. With only minor changes, the
model 3059 wheel was applied to new cars until the early 1950s,
when Ajax replaced the cast malleable iron wheel with a pressed
steel wheel with eight spokes and a large scalloped hub (6).
Freight car hand brakes - 3
5. Ajax model 3059 – 1929
to early 1950s. The 3059
wheel and gear mechanism
at right is applied to a drop-
end gondola built in 1931.
6. Ajax pressed steel wheel
– early 1950s to about
1960.
5
6
Equipco – Equipment
Specialties Division of Union
Asbestos & Rubber Co.
During the first half of the
1930s, Equipco supplied
car builders with a 22-inch
cast malleable iron wheel
with six spiral spokes (7).
The design was modified in
1935 with an enlarged hub
with six round holes in each
segment (8). In the late
1930s Equipco modified the
hub again by changing the
round holes to triangular
sections and adding a dozen
small rectangular holes in
the rim (9).
7
8
9
7. Equipco – early 1930s to
mid 1930s.
8. Equipco – from mid-
1930s to 1939.
9. Equipco – 1939 to mid ‘50s.
MRH-Nov 2013
