Re: Brake Testing Appliance.

These look like single car test devices. Such devices were specified and sold by the air brake companies for doing a series of tests for complete single cars. The companies issued test code booklets for these devices. Alternately, railroads built there own copies of devices. A single car test device provided for a "go - no go" test and was often used by car men at repair-in-place (RIP) facilities. I believe that there were variations for passenger and freight cars.

This was quicker than taking the air valve off the car and taking it to an appropriate test rack for a complete test. A test rack and its code of tests allowed for complete checking of the valves including leaks, response time, etc. The code provided for determining if the valve met the conditions of a new valve; one that needed to be disassembled, cleaned and serviced; passed the test for a good working valve after being cleaned and serviced; or to be condemned and discarded.

Test codes for various valves and single car test devices show up on eBay, used book store sites, and shows/swap meets.

Brian Norden