What the #%&@ is this?

[AlD]

This came bundled in a bunch of stuff I recently bought, and I've never seen anything like it. It's a wooden block, well made, 9-1/4 x 2-3/4, and contains these 14 slots for strips of steel (one strip is missing). There is a band of brass along one side, and a band of steel on the top.

The length of the strips vary, from just under 3" ranging up to 3-1/16", and the widths range from 5/16 to 2". And the steel isn't machine steel, so they most definitely wouldn't work as gage blocks, as the cutting is very imprecise.

Anyone have any idea what this might be used for? I'm stumped! Thanks in advance. And if you can provide a link, that would be great!

Al

 

[2oolhound]

The closest thing I can think of is home made parallel bars:

 

[AlD]

Parallels have two identical pieces of each size, these are all one of a kind. Thanks, though.

 

[LXCam]

Poor man go-no go gauges is my guess.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It looks like the long steel strip screwed into the top is just there to keep the narrower steel pieces down in their slots, correct? What is the brass strip doing? Anything?

Do any of the narrower steel plates have holes in them like the wider steel plates do?

Do the screws in the narrow plates turn in and out freely?

 

[AlD]

The top plate seems to be just holding the pieces in place.

There are only two plates with holes--the largest two.

The screws in the smaller plates do not turn freely, but that may be a function of rust.

Hope this narrows it down!
Al

 

[AlD]

Could be. Thanks!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'll bet they were used to fix a blade on something you would associate with a large papercutter.
Length wouldn't be all mighty important, width (of cut) would be.

I can see that. But what are the fasteners for?