Anybody Ever Seen This Tool?

[AlD]

This thing came from a garage sale, and I'm totally perplexed. The little dies apparently fit into the handle, but what you do next I don't have a clue!

There are a couple of numbers on it, and I've checked the US patents, to no avail. Those numbers are 4687579, followed by "U.S.", and 4687580, also followed by "U.S.". The box is a sort of army green.

The little silver colored "dies" are of aluminum, and wouldn't be strong enough to give much torque, if they were put into the tool and you tried to use it as a spanner.

Thanks for any thoughts!
Al

 

[TwoInch]

looks like a pin wrench of some sort. if the bits are aluminum, id assume it is for a pretty low torque application. probably adjustments of some sort, and not so much the retaining type fasteners, like on angle grinders and such.


someone here should know exactly what its all about.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yep, Adjustable pin spanner.

 

[AlD]

I use this tool on occassions, it is for forging, although it is a little outdated.

Could you say a little more about that? I can't see how it would be used for forging, since the inserts are of aluminum, or see what application it would have even if they weren't. Thanks!
Al
(any idea what it's called?)

 

[AlD]

looks like a pin wrench of some sort. if the bits are aluminum, id assume it is for a pretty low torque application. probably adjustments of some sort, and not so much the retaining type fasteners, like on angle grinders and such.


someone here should know exactly what its all about.

Possibly, but why the aluminum tips, and why are the shapes different? It's a real odd duck! And it is not a simple adjustable spanner, with those weird tips! Every adjustable spanner I've ever seen has steel tips, unless it inserts into something soft, like brass. Weird!
Thanks to all of you for your responses. I'd love to get a web link, if anyone knows what to call it.
Al

 

[RCStocker]

It is not a punch because the tips are aluminum for one thing and second there is no downward direct force. It looks like an adjustable spanner that will fit different shapes. It could be for making molds in forge work but that does not make any sense either. I was a tool and die maker in my former life.

After 50 years of buying and selling everything from scrap to fine art I have never seen one.

Common sense rules out many things but does not give us the answer. It has a screw stop so you can set the spacing width so it repeats itself. It could be a tool to set the spacing on special manufacturing but I still think it is a tool to tighten or loosen something.

?????????????????????????????????? Great find.

 

[AlD]

Thanks! I've been buying and selling for over 35 years myself, and I agree with you--but what? It will probably wind up gracing a shelf somewhere, since there's no way I can correctly name the thing, so it will be tough at some point to sell, since I can't really name it!

 

[Big Pete]

It might be a fuse installation tool for artillery rounds or gravity bombs. IIRC they are usually fitted with non steel tools to reduce spark risks.

 

[AlD]

Yeah, I thought it might have a military application because of the box color. But the handle itself is steel. ???
Thanks!

 

[Bronson]

Some type of Millwright application??

 

[carcajou]

It was made for the US AIR FORCE. It came with 12 pair of tips even though there was room for a couple more pair. Not sure where they were used but they do pop up from time to time. Usually $50 to $75 bucks.

 

[TwoInch]

Possibly, but why the aluminum tips, and why are the shapes different? It's a real odd duck! And it is not a simple adjustable spanner, with those weird tips! Every adjustable spanner I've ever seen has steel tips, unless it inserts into something soft, like brass. Weird!
Thanks to all of you for your responses. I'd love to get a web link, if anyone knows what to call it.
Al

different shapes for different types of slots. just like rear calipers on modern cars have different slot types for different manufacturers and models(example)

the military, and weapon thing could be right. aluminum so it doesnt tear up whatever its adjusting, non magnetic maybe, non-sparking. some sort of sensitive adjustment of something is my guess.

 

[AlD]

That makes sense! Any idea what the thing is called?

 

[TwoInch]

no clue other than an adjustable pin spanner. it may have a specific name, like the "adjustable sensitive nuclear weapons of mass destruction pin spanner"

thats what im callin it, until someone chimes in with the proper.

 

[BFBOB]

Those numbers - patents? Easy to look up.

 

[jeremy v]

Here is one that just sold for pretty good money on Ebay.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Air-Forc...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Nice score

 

[devilsnight]

cool find, I bet you paid less than $178 for it ^^

 

[AlD]

The eBay information was the jackpot! Thank you one and all so much--and yes, I paid less than $178 for it. Considerably less!
Al

 

[Nuplumber]

Mid fuse on 500 and bigger bombs and used on detonators for area denial( like a bomb but acts like a huge mine) I was a Eod tech 55d in the army. This is fuse assembly tool. You don't have to kill those things so the pins are not steel for good reason.

 

[warweapon762]

It might be a fuse installation tool for artillery rounds or gravity bombs. IIRC they are usually fitted with non steel tools to reduce spark risks.

I was going to say this, it looks very similar (albeit much much higher quality) to adjustable timing fuse spanners ive seen for naval applications. These dont really show up in the wild.