What is this thing?

[SRoberts006]

Ok so I inherited my late Uncle's tool box. The man was a goldsmith by trade but loved working on cars. While going thru the tool box I’ve found a ton of stuff I had no idea what it was or what it was used for and google has been a tremendous help, however I can’t seem to figure this one out. (Most likely my description in the google search is bad).

So it’s labeled Craftsman, it’s 3 1/2” long. And it’s metal. If you push on the little switch it opens up, then you can tighten it back down.

Any ideas??

 

[RamVet]

Ring compressor?

 

[steel 35]

Ring compressor to install pistons

 

[Adk Mike]

I have one exactly like it !

 

[SRoberts006]

Bingo! Just looked up ring compressor amd this is what it is. Thanks!! Was driving me crazy. Will have to add this to the box I’m making of tool I don’t need.

 

[vjquan]

There should be a matching L-shaped square key that fits the hole to crank it down.

 

[MaverickDMD]

Wow. That takes me back a while. I haven't built an engine since 1983, but the second I saw the color of that collar I knew exactly what it was.

 

[SRoberts006]

There should be a matching L-shaped square key that fits the hole to crank it down.

Yep found those too, in the same drawer.

 

[gearhead1]

Yep, ring compressor. I have the same one also.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Also called a finger slicer.

 

[Weissbier]

It’s a bologna dispenser. It was made for high-speed dispensing of bologna in a busy delicatessen. Pretty rare. Even rarer is the mustard dispenser.

 

[unslow1]

Also called a finger slicer.

That's no joke.