By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
Forum sponsored by:
Forum sponsored by Forum House Ad Zone

First New Years Mystery Item!

All Topics | Latest Posts

Search for:  in Thread Title in  
Martin King 202/01/2023 16:00:08
avatar
1129 forum posts
1 photos

Hi all,

A tool dealer pal came round this morning to offer me his first batch of items that he had put aside for me and in amongst it was this oddity:

odditem 1.jpg

Made of brass over a hardwood backing. Seems to be part of something else but no idea what? Has strange ridges in the top half:

odditem 2.jpg

Rear is like this:

odditem 3.jpg

odditem 4.jpg

Has makers nicely engraved initials of HS or SH

Any thoughts anyone?

Cheers, Martin

Ady102/01/2023 16:35:30
avatar
6137 forum posts
893 photos

A leather work widget?

ega02/01/2023 17:13:35
2805 forum posts
219 photos

The bisected screw head suggests that it may be a (nicely) shop-made item and SH its maker - or is that Uncle Sam's dollar?

Martin King 202/01/2023 18:13:47
avatar
1129 forum posts
1 photos

Looks like initials not a dollar sign to me.

Martin

MichaelR02/01/2023 20:20:24
avatar
528 forum posts
79 photos

A throat plate for a very very large sewing machine dont know

Nigel Graham 202/01/2023 22:40:58
3293 forum posts
112 photos

Notice -

- it seems not have definite holding-down arrangements such as screw-holes - it might have clipped onto or slotted into something.

- the scale is engraved in an unusual way as if to provide a successively finer adjustment for.... something.

- the steps are tapered inwards like a ratchet, perhaps to maintain a fairly low level across them. They don't have sharply vertical or in-cut risers though, reducing any intended locating ability - but that may be an effect of wear.

Brass on hardwood.... suggesting the material being worked on, if that was the case, was wood, leather, paper/card or cloth. Not metal, unless precious-metals perhaps. It might have been some special type of bench-block.

Any chance the dealer would know something of its previous owner's work? Or what tools it had been bundled with: they might provide clues?

I have one possible lead to follow, if only to eliminate it from enquiries.....

not done it yet03/01/2023 09:23:27
7517 forum posts
20 photos
Posted by ega on 02/01/2023 17:13:35:

The bisected screw head suggests that it may be a (nicely) shop-made item and SH its maker - or is that Uncle Sam's dollar?

I think you may be looking at it upside down. I don’t think it is a H. More like a combination of F, J and S.

The screw fitted accross the groove is certainly surprising - unless added by the eventual user.

Edited By not done it yet on 03/01/2023 09:25:36

Hopper03/01/2023 09:38:25
avatar
7881 forum posts
397 photos

Curious scale engraved on it too. Starts out in eighths, then 16ths then 32nds.

Looks more like a woodworker's tool than an engineer's. intriguing.

John Doe 203/01/2023 09:42:54
avatar
441 forum posts
29 photos

Are you sure it is a tool?

Could it be a decorative item - it is somewhat Art-Deco in appearance, and the screw heads that have been machined away do not suggest tooling to me, since they would be awkward to remove and replace for maintenance.

J Hancock03/01/2023 10:20:48
869 forum posts

Not that it helps a lot but I think as shown in the first photograph it is upside down , ie as used the angled grooves

would be nearest to the operator.

Because the letter S would have been impressed with the larger diameter of the S at the bottom ?

Martin Kyte03/01/2023 10:27:17
avatar
3445 forum posts
62 photos

If you look carefully at the back there is evidence of circular impressions in the T slots from some kind of clamp bolt suggesting that an adjustable fence or suchlike could be attached to the front.

Bazyle03/01/2023 10:48:19
avatar
6956 forum posts
229 photos

There is no evidence of tool damage so it is for measuring something after it has been made not for cutting to length. The material is thin or soft enough to flex into the alignment grooves and the T slots for end stops implies multiple items in production. Why round as it would be more natural for a stand alone jig to be square? Perhaps to fit into some larger device and need to be rotated?

Nigel Graham 203/01/2023 11:03:34
3293 forum posts
112 photos

I wonder if the groove that cuts the screw was added later. I can't imagine it would have been deliberate as original.

The faint scar on the underside, spotted by Martin, might alternatively have been for a G-clamp or similar holding the workpiece. It's it is not heavily marked though, so perhaps it was unusual to clamp anything to it - or the clamp had a soft foot, maybe of hardwood.

I think more likely, an adjustable stop that is basic to its use would use the Tee-slots.

I have sent the link to a friend who does a bit of silver-smithing as a hobby, to see if he recognises it as anything related to that craft.

====

(Incidentally, I sent enquiries about that Strange Round Number Thing that had us all foxed a couple of years ago, to a slide-rule manufacturer and pipe-organ builder; but neither of them could recognise it.)

Nigel Graham 203/01/2023 20:11:17
3293 forum posts
112 photos

Well, we can discount jewellery making, but my friend suggested another line of enquiry:

His reply:

Hi Nigel,

It’s nothing to do with silver or metalsmithing as far as I am aware. My thoughts would be a mount for a scientific/ maritime instrument?

Cheers

Adrian

If scientific, possibly a school laboratory instrument, by its simple but rugged construction?

Martin King 205/01/2023 11:50:44
avatar
1129 forum posts
1 photos
Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 03/01/2023 20:11:17:

Well, we can discount jewellery making, but my friend suggested another line of enquiry:

His reply:

Hi Nigel,

It’s nothing to do with silver or metalsmithing as far as I am aware. My thoughts would be a mount for a scientific/ maritime instrument?

Cheers

Adrian

If scientific, possibly a school laboratory instrument, by its simple but rugged construction?

Over to you Michael? smiley

I think the underside is certainly for some sort of tee slot...? The rule markings are extremely well don and precise?

Cheers Martin

PS Wait until you see the next item which has me completely stumped also.....

Michael Gilligan05/01/2023 12:46:26
avatar
23121 forum posts
1360 photos
Posted by Martin King 2 on 05/01/2023 11:50:44:

Over to you Michael? smiley

.

Martin,

On the arrogant assumption that you mean me:I have remained silent because I have no better idea than anyone else … but I do have a question … The rulings are obviously eighths, sixteenths, and thirty-seconds but are they actually divisions of an Inch [of the 25.4mm size] ?

MichaelG.

J Hancock05/01/2023 13:40:12
869 forum posts

Lastly, from me.

I think we are looking at it upside down.

ALL the markings are engraved,

Since it is very precise the little loop at the bottom of one I turns it into a delberate J

So , combinations of I J S

vic newey05/01/2023 13:51:29
avatar
347 forum posts
173 photos
Posted by MichaelR on 02/01/2023 20:20:24:

A throat plate for a very very large sewing machine dont know

--------------------------

or bandsaw

Michael Gilligan05/01/2023 14:46:30
avatar
23121 forum posts
1360 photos

This is my wild guess … it’s a wood-engraver’s ‘vice’ [for want of a better term] and is made that oval shape so that it sits nicely on the leather sand-bag that they use, and could be easily turned-around for convenience [rather like the circular light-box that’s built into an Animator’s desk].

MichaelG.

.

Ref. __ **LINK** http://www.bewicksociety.org

Ref. __ **LINK** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_engraving

Ian P05/01/2023 15:27:49
avatar
2747 forum posts
123 photos

Throwing my thoughts and observations into the pot


1_ Firstly, I have no idea what it is

2_ Picture might be upside down

3_ Engraved letters could be F, J and S

4_ Engraved scale looks to be slightly off centre, but in any event the graduations have no units or index.

5_ Cut away screw head has a couple of other 'notches' missing

6_ My wild speculation is that it may have something to do with the cigarette industry (I've seen wood/brass measuring instruments from the early 1900's).

Just food for thought... or maybe put that in your pipe and smoke it!

HNY to all

Ian P

All Topics | Latest Posts

Please login to post a reply.

Magazine Locator

Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!

Find Model Engineer & Model Engineers' Workshop

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.

You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

Latest Forum Posts
Support Our Partners
cowells
Sarik
MERIDIENNE EXHIBITIONS LTD
Subscription Offer

Latest "For Sale" Ads
Latest "Wanted" Ads
Get In Touch!

Do you want to contact the Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop team?

You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.

Click THIS LINK for full contact details.

For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.

Digital Back Issues

Social Media online

'Like' us on Facebook
Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
 Twitter Logo

Pin us on Pinterest

 

Donate

donate