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   I originally made it for firearms stamping.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.

[Magicman]

I am not seeing any handles but after taking a closer look, it does resemble the squeezing action that my Grain Binding/Bundling tool has.  The bundles were then Shocked for curing before threshing.

[doc henderson]

I see a pat pend made in the USA.  also, the number 10.  is there a brand name?  could use to be a filter wrench, and also has a round grove on the far end.  maybe a rubber piece???

[Magicman]

That would be a mighty big filter !! 

[doc henderson]

Prob. for filters in Texas.  @TimW 

[rusticretreater]

If you look at the picture, you will see one end of the clamp is beveled and will fit in the groove of the other end.  IMO that makes it a clamp for a specific sized pipe and the handle mechanism will lock into place, just like the chain holddown truckers use.

[caveman]

A pipe clamp of some sort may be the answer.  I'll try to get better pictures the next time he stops by, which is usually every weekend or so.  Thank you for those who have made suggestions.  It evidently is not a common tool.

[doc henderson]

see if there is writing on the other side.  please!

[mroldstyle]

I would use it as a Busch Light can crusher.

[caveman]

These are the pics I was sent a few minutes ago.  

[doc henderson]

48 and 49 may be part numbers, there is a bone like symbol on each of the two big parts.  I can make out the made in the USA, but not what is in front of that, looks like "hot pens".   nice close up but need one at the name of the tool or brand on the part 48 in front of the made in USA.  or hit it with a wire wheel or do a pencil shading on paper to get the raised letters.      I think the light is better on the right half.  if he can read it, that may help.  then we can do a search on google.  

[TimW]

That is an over center clamp that locks and holds a certain size pipe.  I'm guessing oil field or water well.  You hold it while the drilling rig spins the pipe.
Or Popeye's spinach can opener.

[Hilltop366]

I did a image search and came up with a lot of pictures of horse shoes and other various U shaped pieces of rusty metal but also any image that looked like this but with a longer handle was called a vintage tire bead breaker.

[Hilltop366]

And this.

[doc henderson]

that makes sense.  the notch must go on the wheel rim on the other side.

[rusticretreater]

I can agree with that.  Here is another image of a Ken Tools version.  It has the wider foot which I am used to seeing on tire bead breakers.  I kept searching for well pipe clamps and was coming up with tools with a similar clamping shape but I couldn't find anything that matched the tool closely.

[TimW]

Bingo, I see it clear as mud now.  The last photo, above, looks like it was modified to work better.