Another "What Is It?" Item

[1967mgbgt]

Once again, I'm drawing upon the collective members minds to help me identify this item and its use. I think it's some sort of winch even though there isn't any sort of brake/clutch. Only id on it is the cast numbers 400.

 

[TurnipTruck]

I have seen newer hand crank winches just like that on large industrial heater flue damper manual controls, but it could also raise/lower the carriage on a hydraulic press.

 

[larry_g]

Being a worm drive it is self braking/locking. No idea of the original use but being to crank both ways in/out it was probably used for raising and lowering a load to a set position.

lg

 

[1967mgbgt]

Thanks for the info. I never new that a worm drive could be considered self braking/locking but it makes sense. Found it in the basement junk of a house several years ago. My guess it likely came out of one of the factories or mills in WNC

Can I comfortably assume that even though it's in good working condition there's no real value to it-unless I find that one in a million person who needs it!