Vintage jack

[wristpin]

Not strictly a garden implement but have been given this old hydraulic jack.
I’ve put some oil into it and it pumps up but as yet I can’t find how to release it!
I’ve tried pulling the handle right out, twisting it, pushing it right in and twisting it and folding it down parallel with the ground – all to no effect – ang ideas?

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Interesting old jack, never seen one of those about. Did you have any weight on it when you were trying to release it, or were you relying on the springs.

[wristpin]

Apologies for the orientation of the images, they were correct when they left me and in the pre-view! Something to do with the ipad, I guess!
No, have not tried a weight on it but will give it a go.
No sign of any manufacturer’s name on it but what paint remains is yellowy orange and at the back of my mind I have recollections of some other garage equipment in a similar colour, possibly one of those oil tanks and pumps in a cabinet that were usual of garage forecourts back in the fifties.
Those of us of a certain age will remember oil being served in glass bottles that were refilled from such a cabinet and brought out in a crate with a handle containing six or eight bottles.
Local garage sold both Castrol and Havoline and had a cabinet for each with a roller shutter that could be closed and locked after hours.

[hillsider]

You are not dreaming re the Orange colour, Epco jacks were usually that colour. I have not seen a jack exactly like the one in your pics but I have seen jacks where you have the normal pumping stroke on the handle to raise the plunger but to lower it you go to the bottom of the stroke where you then push the handle harder to overcome a strong spring to move the jacking pump into the lowering position.
Alternatvely the pump handle is shaped to form a key that engages with the lowering valve when it is rotated in it’s socket or even pushed in and rotated.

Good luck with the load testing.

[wristpin]

lower it you go to the bottom of the stroke where you then push the handle harder to overcome a strong spring to move the jacking pump into the lowering position.

Almost right, but its pull not push!
Was about to temporarily give up on it when I put my foot on the base, pulled the handle right it out and down it went under the action of the two retractor springs. Quite a stretch with no load to hold it in place.
Have subsequently found this website that is packed with information about just about every jack made but not, it appears, this one. I’ll keep you posted.

http://mgaroadster.co.uk/index.htm

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