Thursday, December 30, 2010

Set 369

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2125. This briefcase was modified for a specific purpose:





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2126. The larger items are around 1-1/4" diameter:

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Pushing the lever on the side opens the hole that can be seen on the bottom:

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2127. Approximately 6-3/4" long, 1-1/2" diameter, this was submitted by a visitor who is looking to find its exact purpose, it has three separate compartments:

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2128. 11" long, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:



























2129. About 6" long, this unidentified device was sent in by a visitor:






















2130. The large part in the center is 6-1/2" long:































Answers:



2125. A bomb training briefcase, it was used in the 1980s to show several ways a bomb could be triggered. OSI Technical Services installed electronic switches to detonate the "bomb" under various circumstances. If the lid was opened, a light-sensitive photocell set off the device. X-raying the briefcase activated a brass sensor, and a mercury-filled switch set off the bomb if the case was moved. Touch sensors on the latches also set it off. A noise from the black speaker indicated an "explosion."

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2126. These are all powder measure caps from powder flasks:

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2127. A plumber's container for holding grease, rosin, and flour, all were necessary for the soldering process of assembling the joints of lead pipe. A similar grease and rosin box can be seen here.

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2128. A firestarter, it was kept in a pot of kerosene by the fireplace, to start a fire it was taken out of the pot, lit, and placed under the logs where it would burn for ten or fifteen minutes. The inside of the coil is filled with asbestos.
























2129. A Brass Letter Press Nutcracker that is missing its wooden handle:






















2130. The wedge from a hydraulic wood splitter:







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When researching the log splitter I found several videos that show some other techniques of splitting wood:
















Happy New Year!









To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile.















Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the entire post.








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Set 368

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for some of my best posts.



2119. 2-1/8" long when closed, 3-1/2" long when open, submitted by a visitor who is looking to identify this device, it was found in a box with an old fleam:

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2120. Around 10" long:

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2121. Approximately 4" long:

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2122. 5-3/8" long, this unidentified item was found by a metal detector in McCracken, Missouri (near Ozark) on the site of a former 1800s store:



























2123. 3" long:

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2124. About 1-1/4" diameter, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:

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Answers:



2119. Haven't been able to verify any of the guesses for this item, looks like it was made to clamp onto a piece of leather or fabric:

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2120. A corn grater, patent number 222,974:

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2121. A mouse trap:

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2122. Probably a sliding door for a store display or cabinet, the protrusions on each side could be used as handles:



























2123. A heel plate that could be attached to a shoe or boot, for use by lumbermen, icemen, teamsters, or log scalers:

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2124. Brass horn decorations for a show bull:

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!








To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile.















Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the entire post.








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Set 367

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for some of my best posts.



2113. Approximately 10" long:

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2114. Around 1-1/2" diameter, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses on this one and a chance to win a T-shirt:






















2115. 10" long:




The lines have been cut into the wood:
























2116. 9" long:

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2117. 2" long:





















2118. Around 30" long:

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Answers:



2113. A tool for cooling and flushing outboard and stern drive marine boat motors.
This flushing attachment is placed over the lower unit's cooling system intake ports and connects to a standard garden hose for cooling water supply. This tool permits the operation of the engine when not in the water allowing for engine testing, tuning, and repair. Also used for flushing out debris and salt from the engine's cooling passages.


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2114. An old brass gambling die:






















2115. A time fuse for use with Civil War artillery:
...hollowed almost to the point and packed with a composition of mealed powder moistened with whiskey or alcohol. When dry, the rate of burning would be determined by experiment, and marked on the fuses packed with that lot. The fuse, marked in tenths of inches, would be cut with a fuse saw to the length necessary to burn for the desired period of time.

The fuse was placed into the mortar shell so that the shell would explode a certain amount of time after it was fired.




























2116. A hoof pick and cutter that was used on horses:

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2117. A piezoelectric device for use in treating insect bites and jellyfish stings:




















2118. A wrist exerciser made by the J.E. Porter Corporation, Ottawa, Illinois:

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To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile.















Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the entire post.








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.