What is it?

I've been collecting unusual objects for quite a while, and several years ago I started posting them on this site as puzzles for visitors to figure out what they are. Most of the items are mine but a few belong to others, if you aren't interested in tools there are plenty of other type objects that have also been posted.

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for a wide variety of some of my best pieces.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

160. This is a close-up of something common.






161. 4 3/8" long



162. 3" tall



163. 7 1/2" long



164. Iron ball, 1 1/4" diameter



Answers

posted by Rob H. at 6:18 PM

19 Comments:

  • 160. Epcot building

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/22/2004 6:19 AM  

  • >163 is most probably a pass/no-pass QC device ...

    Correct

    >I would be curious what factory used it, and when it was built though.

    The text on this one reads "The Challenge Mchry. Co. Grand Haven, Mich. U.S.A."

    The company is over 130 years old, maybe I'll send them an email an ask about this gauge.

    http://www.challengemachinery.com/

    By Blogger Rob H., at 10/22/2004 6:26 AM  

  • >160. Epcot building

    This one isn't a building.

    >161. Bullet mold

    Correct, the seller said it was from the civil war but I'm not sure if it's really that old.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 10/22/2004 6:31 AM  

  • 160. Looks like..... a bike reflector?
    ~winky

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/22/2004 8:41 AM  

  • >Looks like..... a bike reflector? ~winky

    Correct, good job on that one, I was starting to wonder if it might be too difficult. Anyone care to guess what caused the white crystal looking formations? I'll post a few more photos and the answer either here in the comments section or on the answer page for this set.

    >I believe I've seen #163 on the leading edge of a large agricultural harvester...

    I think this is the right answer but I don't know what machine it's from.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 10/22/2004 1:41 PM  

  • 163 is a part of an agricultural sickle bar. I don't off the top of my head remember its proper part name, but this is without a doubt.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/23/2004 8:45 AM  

  • >163 is a part of an agricultural sickle bar...

    Thanks for the info, I'll have to do some research on that.

    -----

    The link below has a few more photos of the reflector and explains the crystal type structures:

    http://pzphotoreflector.blogspot.com/

    By Blogger Rob H., at 10/23/2004 6:53 PM  

  • Re #164:

    I've seen an iron ball from a rock crusher that looks about like that, but it's about 4" in diameter, rather than 1 1/4".

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/25/2004 10:19 AM  

  • is it a solar panel?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/25/2004 11:35 AM  

  • 164 - Grapeshot?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/25/2004 5:45 PM  

  • 164 a ball bering from a large truck of some sort.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/25/2004 10:33 PM  

  • >is it a solar panel?

    #160 isn't a solar panel.


    >#164 could be a ball from a ball mill. I believe they come in all different sizes.

    >164 - Grapeshot?

    >164 a ball bering from a large truck of some sort.

    While it's possible that the ball is from a ball mill or a bearing from truck, I've seen quite a few like it one the web that were used as canister shot, which is a variation of grape shot except that it's in a thin shell. I looked for examples of ball mill balls and truck bearings on the web but didn't see any that looked like mine. So I'll probably go with canister shot unless I find some good evidence to the contrary.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 10/26/2004 5:26 PM  

  • 170 cigar holder

    168 chisle

    167 some kind of mechanical programming device. The number and position of the steel pins determine the actions of the machine it belongs to.

    165 some kind of crystal.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/27/2004 5:19 AM  

  • 165: i also believe its a type of christal i don't know for sure if it has been processed my aunt has a 'stone' that looks like this one. If seen em on markets where they sell semi gems.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/27/2004 6:40 AM  

  • 165 is a bismut kristal
    100% sure; I have one myself

    Frans

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/27/2004 1:44 PM  

  • #169 is definitely a staple remover. I've see these used to remove staples from a set of architectural drawings (really long, tough staples).

    A guess on #168: Does it make decorative grooves in wood molding?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/27/2004 3:24 PM  

  • 167 - a wire bending jig.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/27/2004 3:47 PM  

  • >170 cigar holder

    It was made to hold something but not cigars.

    >168 chisle

    Correct.

    >167 some kind of mechanical programming device...

    This one isn't a programming device.


    >165 some kind of crystal.

    Partial credit, it's a metallic crystal.

    >165 is a bismut kristal
    100% sure; I have one myself

    Correct.

    #169 is definitely a staple remover. I've see these used to remove staples from a set of architectural drawings (really long, tough staples).

    Yes.


    >A guess on #168: Does it make decorative grooves in wood molding?

    #168 isn't for working on wood.

    >167 - a wire bending jig.

    Correct.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 10/27/2004 5:10 PM  

  • I agree that #163 is agricultural. It might have been the tooth from a harrow but it is too short. The slot is the real clue. I'm pretty sure that this is a guard or finger from a hay mower, possibly a side-sickle mower. The slot is both a guide and guard for the reciprocating sickle blade. The finger guided the grass stems back to the blade evenly to avoid jamming the reciprocating mechanism.

    By Blogger Maggie, at 12/08/2004 8:34 AM  

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