Thursday, January 27, 2011

Set 373

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



2149. Approximately 36" long:

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There is a large hole on the top:



This side is hinged and can be opened:

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Opening the door reveals this mechanism:

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A slightly smaller model of a similar device:









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2150.Someone is looking to find the exact purpose of this hammer:
































2151. Sent in by a reader of this site:

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2152. An unidentified tool that was submitted by a visitor:



























2153. 4-1/2" long, the spike has a hole in it, the black part is hollow and open on the end:

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2154. 37" tall, this was shot at an auction, no one knew what it was meant to hold, Neatorama is giving away T-shirts for the two funniest guesses for its purpose:



































Answers:



2149. This was part of a threshing machine. The grain auger outlet would set in the cradle on top and boxes were slid through to collect the grain. As the boxes passed they were counted by the mechanism.

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2150. This is most likely a log marking hammer:































2151. An antique wood juicer from India:

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2152. Part of a seed oil press, the spiral keeps feeding in seeds which increases the pressure thus squeezing the oil out.



























2153. A cigar holder, similar to the one in patent number 276,042:

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2154. Probably a case for holding a Tesla coil:









A video of Tesla coil with a guy in a Faraday cage:



Tesla coils set to music:




A man in a Faraday suit with a Tesla coil:










































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, January 20, 2011

Set 372

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



2143. Approximately 7" long:

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2144. 11-1/2" wide, marked Pyrex, the photo was sent in by someone who is looking to identify this glass sphere:

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2145. 7-1/4" tall, submitted by a visitor who would like to find its exact purpose:


























2146. 6-1/2" long, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a prize:

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2147. About 30" long:
























2148. 6" long:

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Answers:



2143. An ice block carrier, it was used to bore into the ice during which the points were automatically extended so the block could be picked up, patent number 348,858.

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2144. Two possibilities for this glass item, it could have been for laboratory use or it could have been part of a milking pipeline:

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2145. This is part of an "Edgar Cayce impedance device" made by Ernie and Barry Yare of Newcastle of Tyne, UK, it's also called the Radiac, and Ice Appliance. It was used by standing it in ice water, connecting wires to it, and then attaching the wires to various parts of the body. It was supposed to balance the body's energies.





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2146. A miner's canary cage, the birds were taken into the mines to be used as early warning signals for the presence of methane or carbon monoxide:

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2147. A leather creaser for use by a saddle or harness maker, the round part was heated and then with pressure applied from the shoulder, it was used to make lines on the leather. A similar tool can be seen in the "Dictionary of Leather-Working Tools, c. 1700-1950."























2148. A methane detector for use in mines, the numbers indicate the percent of methane:












An update from last week, the item below was found to be part of a vintage sixpence pocket coin holder:





I own a lot of different tool books but the one that I use first as a reference is the Dictionary of American Hand Tools: A Pictorial Synopsis (Schiffer Book for Collectors). It has over 4,500 images and is a great book for learning about about a wide variety of tools.

After much soul searching I've decided to become an Amazon affiliate to help pay for the costs of finding and purchasing items to post here. Please consider purchasing books through my links if you are interested in them, there is no additional cost for the buyer and a small amount will be paid to my account.


Robert Hartmann is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.














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, January 13, 2011

Set 371

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



2137. Approximately 5" long:







Another model of the same tool:























2138. 7/8" diameter, these photos were sent in by a visitor who is looking to find the purpose of this item, his description of it: "...seems to have a spring inside of it. When you squeeze it, the two parts spring back to the original position. The top is brass with embossed characters and the bottom is convex steel."




























2139. 3-1/2" long:

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2140. The base is around 18" long, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:



A smaller version of this tool:

























2141. About 8" long:

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2142. Approximately 7" long, another unidentified item:

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Answers:


2137. A scythe anvil, it was pounded into a stump and used with a hammer to peen the edge of a scythe to sharpen it.































2138. Part of a vintage Sixpence pocket coin holder and dispenser:



























2139. A wire twisting tool, used when splicing fence or telephone wires:

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A similar tool can be seen in use at 1:30 in this video:





















2140. A corn husk shredder, it was used for making mattresses, the husks would have been pushed onto the spikes and then pulled to shred them.





























2141. Surveyor's stakes, or surveyor's pins:

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2142. A bed tightener, patent number 877,774:

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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.