Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Scotty]

At the museum we often get interested groups who visit and part of the visit we sometimes give them a selection of mystery objects to identify.

I sorted some out just before Christmas for the Shipping Curator, however the objects have nothing to do with shipping - we don't make it that easy for our guests!

So just to idle away a bit of time and get your grey matter going what do you think this is (but I warn you now I don't know either, that's why I chose them in the first place - to get an answer)? -



(Admin - if this is in competition to a section somewhere else on the site, my apologies, I did look and didn't see anything other than the "Mystery Panels". You are most welcome to remove this thread if it is - I wouldn't be offended. Scotty. )

[admin]

go for it! I've got a few weird tools too, so when I remember (!) I'll photo them and put them on here too

Rick

[admin]

As I know a few people are interested in old tools, I set up a new forum category and moved this thread over!

Rick

[Scotty]

[oldgoaly]

I am a "toolaholic" i can not change, i am a toolaholic! I feel better now! Interesting clamp of some sort, can't say i've seen one before. a good "what is it it is! tt

[alfanut]

I don't think it could be a hose clamp, it would damage the hose. I've also ruled out a clamping device for a machine tool, I don't see how it could be attached to the machine, let alone what type of machine.
My guess is that it might be the part of a scribing block that holds the scriber to the block, but it does look a little crude for part of a precision instrument.

[UKdave2002]

Hi

I think its a "Boss Head Clamp" mainly used in chemistry labs, if you can remember back to your school days heating a test tube over a bunson burner, you would have a vertical stand, this clamp conected to it, which would then let you attach for instance a test tube clamp at 90 degrees to the stand.

Dave

[admin]

Hi Dave - yeah think you might have cracked it!!! I think I've got some of these on a stand in the garage (somewhere), if I can find it I'll dig it out and photo

Rick

[Scotty]

[Scotty]

Just one more tool from me to keep the ball rolling, and in this case I know exactly what it is from my own research into my previous profession (clue) - however its a stinker as I'd never seen one before until I unearthed it deep in the bowels of the museum -


If anybody knows what this is (or gets close to it) then they win a can of that famous Scottish delicious food - Haggis.

I'm going to number this as : Mystery Object No. 2 - just to avoid confusion.

Scotty.

[Stuchamp]

#2 looks like some type sprinkler head or valve.

[Scotty]

Sorry for the late reply - this thread seemed to have dropped off my radar!

You're in the right profession Stuchamp, a clue is on the right hand side.

If you think about the hand-wheel on the left and then look at the other end can you make out a "copper" coloured object that looks like a small metal rod. Yet on the other side there looks to be something spread out - I wonder what would use a small metal rod with something at the end if force was applied it would spread out?

That was the easy(!) part - now consider the main tool of a fireman.

[Scotty]

I must try and remember about this thread!

Since I've bamboozled everybody the tool is for inserting and spreading rivets into the seams of leather hose used by Firemen back in the late 1800's to seal them. There were long rows of these copper rivets all along the lengths of firemens hose, about 36 per foot. They even employed the local shoemaker to come in every so often to apply "softener" to the lengths of leather hose to keep it supple and water-tight.

I suppose I'll have to eat this can of Haggis myself then ("thinks" ..... maybe if I hadn't mentioned the Haggis somebody might have given the answer. ).