More Whatzits--Can we make this the official Whatzit thread?

[Old Man Roger]

Thanks, guys. Makes sense. The teats are 1/16" in diameter and the range is 1/2" to 1-7/16" center to center teat. This example looks older to me, just because of the materials and wear, but it's interesting how consistent the design is. It seems like a lot of tool for a watch. I wish I had one just to try it! (I don't wear watches.) But I'm sure I'll find a use for it. Ratchets, for instance.

If you zoom in on the picture I posted you can see there are different tips for different types of covers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was just reporting the dimensions of this example. But yeah, making them interchangeable makes sense.

 

[ararat]

I found this with metal detector behind an old tobacco barn. Just a solid cylinder chunk of steel. Any idea what it would be for? It was found with a bunch of cultivator points, railroad spikes, cutoffs of metal plate, angle iron, metal bars. It looks like a previous owner was doing tractor/ implement repairs and welding.

 

[cliffcharb]

Big *** soldering gun? Tool box purchased from an estate sale. The gentleman was a body guy from my understanding.

 

[Outlawmws]

Just a solid cylinder chunk of steel.

Sometimes a chuck of steel is just chunk of steel.

Big *** soldering gun?

Not a gun but an electric soldering copper. for big jobs like gutter or radiators

 

[Old Man Roger]

And flashing.

 

[Mintgrun]

Yes, that's a nice big one. The pliers behind it appear to be battery terminal spreaders/reamers. Am I correct?

 

[d42jeep]

I found this with metal detector behind an old tobacco barn. Just a solid cylinder chunk of steel. Any idea what it would be for? It was found with a bunch of cultivator points, railroad spikes, cutoffs of metal plate, angle iron, metal bars. It looks like a previous owner was doing tractor/ implement repairs and welding.

I saw one for sale on Friday made from a railroad axle that had been used as an anvil. My neighbor came close to buying it but decided to leave it behind.
-Don

 

[Beerhippie]

I keep several drops of steel and stainless of various sizes and shapes around the shop for use as small anvils, dollys, backers for riveting, hand-hammers, etc, etc.

That one has obviously seen use as an anvil.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I found a chunk of round at the local restore that looks very similar to the one above. No saw marks, no sharp edges. Turned out it's cast iron.

 

[ararat]

I found a chunk of round at the local restore that looks very similar to the one above. No saw marks, no sharp edges. Turned out it's cast iron.

The "spark test" looks like high carbon steel, but it's not hardened like an anvil. It has a small bevel on each side.

 

[cliffcharb]

Yes, that's a nice big one. The pliers behind it appear to be battery terminal spreaders/reamers. Am I correct?

Yeah, quite a bit of battery pliers, reamers and spreaders in the mix.

 

[cliffcharb]

A few other items I haven’t seen. Google says red handle jobber is a carb holder?
Not sure what the wrenches would have been used for.

 

[d42jeep]

Big *** soldering gun? Tool box purchased from an estate sale. The gentleman was a body guy from my understanding.

Big *** soldering iron for some big soldering jobs. Here are some shown in a WW2 Navy NAF catalog.
Here are a couple that live in my NAF box.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Not sure what the wrenches would have been used for.

Those look like some distributor wrenches (C shaped) and starter alternator wrenches (the half moons)

 

[Oregon Dave]

I found this with metal detector behind an old tobacco barn. Just a solid cylinder chunk of steel. Any idea what it would be for? It was found with a bunch of cultivator points, railroad spikes, cutoffs of metal plate, angle iron, metal bars. It looks like a previous owner was doing tractor/ implement repairs and welding.

I have also see these metal shapes used as anvils in sawmill shops to 'tune' saws; another thought more related to a tobacco barn is a scale weight.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Scale weight... interesting

 

[ararat]

First thing I thought of was a weight when it was close to 10 lbs, but you would think that it would be closer to 10 lbs.

The bevel ends makes me think of a die to press something on farm equipment or railroad.

I was hoping the ball bearing test would have pointed to it being an anvil, but it had no rebound.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Just weighed mine... 7lbs.. not the handiest number for a scale.

 

[Oregon Dave]

First thing I thought of was a weight when it was close to 10 lbs, but you would think that it would be closer to 10 lbs.

The bevel ends makes me think of a die to press something on farm equipment or railroad.

I was hoping the ball bearing test would have pointed to it being an anvil, but it had no rebound.

re: First thing I thought of was a weight when it was close to 10 lbs, but you would think that it would be closer to 10 lbs.

Maybe in 2025 with calibration; how about 150yrs ago; maybe from the viewpoint of the buyer vs. the seller; maybe from the viewpoint of a not so honest person.

 

[ararat]

re: First thing I thought of was a weight when it was close to 10 lbs, but you would think that it would be closer to 10 lbs.

Maybe in 2025 with calibration; how about 150yrs ago; maybe from the viewpoint of the buyer vs. the seller; maybe from the viewpoint of a not so honest person.

Maybe it's 1/4 lbs of fudge factor so you didn't short Reynolds.

 

[Oregon Dave]

Maybe it's 1/4 lbs of fudge factor so you didn't short Reynolds.

Exactly; you sell me tobacco leaves with long stems, I give you the equalizer!

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I got this from the father in-law, but I was not convinced on his thoughts on this tool. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[RTM]

I got this from the father in-law, but I was not convinced on his thoughts on this tool. Any ideas? Thanks.

Plumbing plug?

 

[d42jeep]

Possibly for using in the drain hole in the bottom of a boat to keep the water out, judging from the rusty area.
-Don

 

[Oregon Dave]

I got this from the father in-law, but I was not convinced on his thoughts on this tool. Any ideas? Thanks.

To me, that is an I.D. plug; back the wing nut off, stick it in a quantified hole diameter, tighten the wing nut, the rubber biscuit swells.

It is also interesting in design; the end cap appears to be a pipe cap, with implications that the bolt/shaft is a piece of pipe with O.D. thread of what pitch?/wing nut for sure & possibly the end plate must have the same thread.

Why the long length of the bolt/pipe and the excess O.D. thread length; begin to sense homemade for a specific application. Cramped space; need reach - not too plausible as still have to turn the wing nut with your hand or a tool. Hold the bolt/shaft true with your left hand and tighten the wing nut with a soft hammer?

Probably not a high use tool, but maybe there could be some usage mark clues on the wing nut etc.; is the end plate threaded or welded on?

Cool find!

 

[Outlawmws]

Pipe plug for larger pipes and if the small pipe goes through, pressure testing. (add a gauge)

 

[Oregon Dave]

Pipe plug for larger pipes and if the small pipe goes through, pressure testing. (*** a gauge)

I think you nailed it! / except for the excess O.D. thread, that might be provided for use of spacers so the tool can access recessed holes; like in boilers/heat exchangers - but if it is an *** gauge; what part is calibrated, ear drum deflection, eye ball bulge???

 

[Outlawmws]

I think you nailed it! / but if it is an *** gauge; what part is calibrated, ear drum deflection, eye ball bulge???

Fixed it!

and this is why some of my spellings go astray: (No, I'm not a "touch typist...)

 

[Beerhippie]

Possibly for using in the drain hole in the bottom of a boat to keep the water out, judging from the rusty area.
-Don

Just the thought of that bolt sticking up from the bilge of a boat makes my toes hurt.

Outlaw nailed it--especially if the center of the bolt is bored and tapped for a pressure gauge.

Fixed it!

and this is why some of my spellings go astray: (No, I'm not a "touch typist...)

I think I last saw that keyboard around 1999. Still running Win '95?

 

[Oregon Dave]

Fixed it!

and this is why some of my spellings go astray: (No, I'm not a "touch typist...)

Absolutely; hands built by tool usage don't fit the epitome for keyboards.

 

[mrb1]

I got this from the father in-law,

Like @Outlawmws mentioned, used for testing. At my old shop anyways. We had them from 2" up to 4". Used to leak test welds and seams on exhaust system components like manifolds, mufflers, converters, straight pipe. Last step before shipping parts was an air check for leaks. Leave the caps on all but one. The last one would have the cap removed with air line fitting attached. Leakdown gauge would measure according to spec and pass/fail. Usually used for oddball, low volume parts. High running parts had dedicated automatic plunger setups. We ditched the old cast iron eventually for plastic..

 

[Outlawmws]

I think I last saw that keyboard around 1999. Still running Win '95?

Not quite that old but its still on W7... I need to replace it...

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Like @Outlawmws mentioned, used for testing. At my old shop anyways. We had them from 2" up to 4". Used to leak test welds and seams on exhaust system components like manifolds, mufflers, converters, straight pipe. Last step before shipping parts was an air check for leaks. Leave the caps on all but one. The last one would have the cap removed with air line fitting attached. Leakdown gauge would measure according to spec and pass/fail. Usually used for oddball, low volume parts. High running parts had dedicated automatic plunger setups. We ditched the old cast iron eventually for plastic..

Good job guys. I was thinking more of the line of these.

 

[Beerhippie]

For regular plumbing, this is what you'd see these days:

 

[RTM]

Good job guys. I was thinking more of the line of these.

Ah, the old Donkey **** clog blaster. Remember the first time a neighbor offered to bring it over to a friend's house to clear a drain line that was clogged with roots. She was mortified.

 

[Beerhippie]

Ah, the old Donkey **** clog blaster. Remember the first time a neighbor offered to bring it over to a friend's house to clear a drain line that was clogged with roots. She was mortified.

My favorite is when someone tries to unclog a drain with one of those and water comes gushing out of the standpipe on the roof.

"Is it raining?"

 

[RTM]

My favorite is when someone tries to unclog a drain with one of those and water comes gushing out of the standpipe on the roof.

"Is it raining?"

He was standing there using the vent line as his point of entry, so he knew it was coming, and stopped in time. The clog didn't clear, had to pull the pipe, but he didn't get the shower.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Ah, the old Donkey **** clog blaster. Remember the first time a neighbor offered to bring it over to a friend's house to clear a drain line that was clogged with roots. She was mortified.

When they burst, they burst.

 

[ararat]

More metal detector finds. Stainless steel.