What is This Tool?

[tcsmpsi]

I was looking for some particular, small hinges yesterday, which were hanging in the same area as this tool (has nothing to do with hinges, though).  I suppose it has been about 20 yrs since I made it.  Thought it might be interesting to see if anyone could determine its use.    ;D

[D Hagens]

Do you have any closer pics? Also pics of the underside?

[Brad_bb]

Hard to see the details of what's in that block in the middle.  A home made spoke shave?

[tcsmpsi]

The underside, is the same as the topside.  It is a slot, and that is a brass sheet wrapped around one side.  In the top of the photo, are  the corners of two 1/4 sheets of sandpaper, which should help for size determination.

[Warbird]

Looks like the business end of a large handmade jointer.

[Tom]

The carriage bolts on each end threw me, but my first thought was a burnishing tool, when I found that it had a brass sheet wrapped around one side.

We used to burnish oars and baseball bats to make them tougher to break and to make the contact area of the bat harder.

[tcsmpsi]

The carriage bolts are used to tighten what goes in the slot.     

[Tom]

The slot?  Oh!   Oh yeah, the slot! :-\

[tcsmpsi]

I know, it could have been a better picture of representation.  It was just a whim of the moment at the end of a long day, and I'm not there to take another, presently. 

[Tom]

Well, I'm baffled and look forward to the explanation. 

[Ernie]

Whatever it is, we all obviously need one or maybe even two so we'd have a matched pair.

[sprucebunny]

A scraper holder ??? You set the 3"x4" blade (approx) between the 2 bolts ?

[tcsmpsi]

Not quite...but, you are on the right track, in that it is a holder....for multiples.   ;D

[tcsmpsi]

Ok....it is a holder to keep steel stamps corraled.      ;D



Though my photographic effort on the close up is less than desireable (doubt it has much to do with my old camera), that states, "THE FORUM".   I originally made it for firearms stamping.

The brass wrapping bulges out just a little inside to keep pressure against the stamps from that direction.

[Tom]

That's a might fine idea, but I'd never have guessed it.  :D

[WDH]

Anytime that I put a metal stamp on a letter, the post office sends it back.  Maybe things are done different in Texas.

Wait, let me re-phrase that...."Things are always done different in Texas".  There, now I feel better.

[tcsmpsi]

Anytime that I put a metal stamp on a letter, the post office sends it back.  Maybe things are done different in Texas.

Wait, let me re-phrase that...."Things are always done different in Texas".  There, now I feel better.

Well, you're kinda half-right...the rest of the world does things different than we do.  For some cockamamie reason or 'nother.   :D

You just probably weren't using priority mail.    ;D

[caveman]

A friend of mine has brought this by twice now asking me if I know what this tool is or what it was made to do.  I figured with all of the knowledgeable people here, someone would know.

[jrsloan1]

Caveman, good talking to you yesterday evening. Can't say for sure but it kinda looks similar to a valve spring compressor. 

[Don P]

What is printed on the castings?

[Jack S]

maybe a hand held tire bead breaker 

[caveman]

All that I can make out in the pictures is made in usa, and pat pending.  

[rusticretreater]

I believe it is a clamp to hold and screw threaded end pipes together.  Possibly used to drill water wells or build irrigation systems.

[sharp edge]

Maybe... ues to hand tie shocked oats.

SE 

[Magicman]

Maybe... ues to hand tie shocked oats.

Actually this would be the tool for that:





It has been in my family for well over 100 years.