Set 447

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






2593. Approximately 7" square:

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2594. 10" long:

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2595. This desk was used for a particular purpose:

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2596. 5-1/8 long, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:

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2597. About 6" long, sent in by a visitor who is looking to identify this device, their description of it: "It looks like some sort of latching mechanism, currently in the latched position. When the lever is switched it looks like the rounded hole will line up with the two fixed ones."

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2598. Around 12" long:




















Answers:


2593. This is a "Tile Holding Tool for Use in Tile Cutting" specifically for when making a hole in tile, patent number 2,842,115:

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2594. This is a scribe for use when making a log cabin:

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2595. This desk was used in a post office in Virginia:

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2596. A chainsaw bumper spike, or dog bumper, the quote below on how it's used is from this site.

"Then place the bumper spikes near the engine firmly against the trunk, and start cutting. Pivot the saw about the bumper spikes and into the trunk, using a fanlike motion and moderate pressure to feed the chain into the wood. It is not necessary to move the saw in a sawing motion: the powered chain provides the cutting action. Pivot the saw, then move the bumper spikes to a new location and continue feeding the chain into the cut. Draw the saw out of the cut slowly and with the chain running. If you must cut without the bumper spikes in contact with the tree, or if the saw does not have spikes, be careful that the saw does not jerk and throw you offbalance when the chain contacts the bark or wood."

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The tool in this video is missing the saw but you can see where the spikes are mounted.




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2597. No luck yet on this device, the most suggested answer is that it's a latch for an old window or wagon from the 1800s.

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2598. This is an overhead trolley switch as seen in this photo from a trolley museum.














Are you interested in Old Tools and Tool Collecting? Want to learn more about tools, and meet some great people who have the same interests? Please take a minute to check out the Mid-West Tool Collectors Web Site at this link: www.mwtca.org.































To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile, please include dimensions, any text on the item, and where it was found.




















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.

Set 446

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






2587. The idea here is to describe the purpose of the flat metal part running along side the barrel and also to explain why the two small pieces are attached near the barrel's end:

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2588. These are around 9" tall, they were all made to hold a particular product:























2589. Approximately 6' long:

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2590. Sent in by a visitor who is looking to find out exactly how this tool was used:

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2591. About 8" long, this is a part of something that many people would recognize:





























2592. Another unidentified item that was sent in by a visitor, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:

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The owner's description: "...there is a spring loaded ball inside the housing that is forced into a grove in the plunger so that when the plunger is out it snaps into that position. Sort of like how a socket snaps onto a ratchet."





















Answers:


2587. The card in front of this weapon had this description: "Boot Pistol, so called because of the metal flange for securing the weapon on one's boot." The two small parts are brackets for holding the ramrod which can be seen just above the barrel, it appears to be missing the piece that actually holds the ramrod.

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2588. These bottles were made to hold bitters, which is an alcoholic beverage that was flavored with various herbs:























2589. This is a bowling ball rack:

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2590. A can opener, the teeth on the one handle were for use as a nutcracker, the two posts on the inside of the handles were for attaching a spring.

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2591. A section of an old lightning rod, it was included in a salesman's sample, the other part is the lightning rod's tip:

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2592. This device was used for flaring the ends of copper, brass, or aluminum pipe, similar to the ones seen on these three pages. The one at the first link has a set screw to hold flaring bars, similar to the set screw in the item seen below. Modern flaring tools work by turning a screw but this older version worked by hitting the large end with a hammer.

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The owner's description: "...there is a spring loaded ball inside the housing that is forced into a grove in the plunger so that when the plunger is out it snaps into that position. Sort of like how a socket snaps onto a ratchet."

















Are you interested in Old Tools and Tool Collecting? Want to learn more about tools, and meet some great people who have the same interests? Please take a minute to check out the Mid-West Tool Collectors Web Site at this link: www.mwtca.org.































To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile, please include dimensions, any text on the item, and where it was found.




















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.

Set 445

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






2581. 15" long:

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2582. 11-7/8" tall:




















2583. 12" long:

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2584. Around 14" long:




























2585. 4" diameter:


























2586. 1-1/4" tall, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:



















Answers:



2581. This device is a Downey-Johnson coin counter that was manufactured by the Johnson Fare Box Co.:

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2582. A bucket for catching maple syrup:




















2583. A pistol safe with programmable buttons:

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2584. A vise for holding a saw when it is being sharpened or set:
































2585. The owner stated that it was a buggy step, though others have said that it's a step for use on an automobile, haven't been able to verify either:





























2586. A pin straightener for radio tubes:














Are you interested in Old Tools and Tool Collecting? Want to learn more about tools, and meet some great people who have the same interests? Please take a minute to check out the Mid-West Tool Collectors Web Site at this link: www.mwtca.org.































To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile, please include dimensions, any text on the item, and where it was found.




















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.