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.

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

284. 4" long



285. 17" long





286. 7 3/4" long when fully extended




287. 5" long



288. 2 1/2" wide



289. 4" tall





Answers

posted by Rob H. at 10:33 PM

14 Comments:

  • 289 - A spindle adaptor to convert a record player to play a stack of 45 rpm records.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/02/2005 8:25 PM  

  • 286 - elevator door tool
    288 - light meter

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/02/2005 10:23 PM  

  • 284- Expandable piton, used for rock climbing.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/02/2005 10:42 PM  

  • 285. is a wing for some sort of model airplaine. It looks like the ones I buy when I crash my Air Hog. I fully expect R. to tell me that I have a generally correct answer, but he is looking for a more specific identification for the item.

    - Edward

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/03/2005 1:14 AM  

  • I still get this sort of thing in my dry cleaned suits. Well, I do if I send them to a really good cleaner.

    It does not look exactly like the ones I get, but it is used to align the buttons to the button holes without wrinkling the fabric around the holes.

    -Edward

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/03/2005 1:25 AM  

  • 288 is an old light meter, for photography.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/03/2005 12:09 PM  

  • >289 - A spindle adaptor...
    >286 - elevator door tool
    >288 - light meter
    >284- Expandable piton, used for rock climbing.

    These are all correct, 286 could also called an elevator door key and another term for 284 is a camming device.

    -----

    >285. is a wing for some sort of model airplaine. It looks like the ones I buy when I crash my Air Hog. I fully expect R. to tell me that I have a generally correct answer, but he is looking for a more specific identification for the item.

    You're close but it's not for a model airplane, it's a flying wing that can be flown by itself. You are correct in thinking that I'm looking for a more specific answer, the reason that I include it here is that it flies in a very unusual manner, it isn't thrown like most small planes, and it can be kept aloft indefinitely, with no strings or other attachments. I'll post the answer in a day or two if no one gets it.

    -----

    >I still get this sort of thing in my dry cleaned suits...

    I don't think this one is for buttons, it's too heavy duty and there a lot of wear on it, more than would be expected on a button hook.

    >288 is an old light meter, for photography.

    Correct


    Rob

    By Blogger Rob H., at 3/03/2005 6:02 PM  

  • >287. mabee a damper or grate tool for an old wood/cook stove

    This tool wasn't made for stoves.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 3/05/2005 6:11 PM  

  • Question for the host:
    How well are you able to fly the Walkalong Glider?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/06/2005 11:56 AM  

  • >How well are you able to fly the Walkalong Glider?

    Just about as well as the inventor in the video when using just my hands, not as well hands free though I think with some practice I could do equally well. You need an almost perfectly windless day to fly it otherwise it's impossible to control and it could catch an updraft and fly far enough to get lost. Until you learn to control its speed a better name for it might be Runalong Glider.

    Rob

    By Blogger Rob H., at 3/06/2005 1:13 PM  

  • 297 is indeed a weed-wacker, asfor we have the same-one at home.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/24/2005 8:35 AM  

  • 285 - Is the best design I've found for walkalong gliding. Thanks for mentioning it here. I've set up a new blog as a result for people interested in learning to fly them (http://walkalong-glider.blogspot.com/)

    By Blogger x-surfer, at 4/04/2005 11:47 AM  

  • I found your Blog when I googled "Walkalong Glider". Where did you get your walkalong glider? It looks hand made and yet it is the unmistakable commercial shape of the Air Surfer which is no longer made by Wowee, a division of Hasbro. It also has the shape of the Windrider, made by a firm in Hong Kong but the Windrider has a live hinge so it fits in a box half the size.

    I've been making and flying my own walkalongs for several years now. It is good to know several walkalong gliders are still floating around.

    X-Surfer

    PS I tried your email and it bounced.

    By Blogger x-surfer, at 4/05/2005 11:11 AM  

  • >Where did you get your walkalong glider?

    Not sure why the email bounced, seems to be working now. I got the glider from Tyler MacCready at his web site walkalongglider.com shortly after they featured him on Scientific American Frontiers. The original web site is now gone, I think I paid ten dollars for the glider, this was before the toy companies started to sell them.

    Rob

    By Blogger Rob H., at 4/05/2005 2:40 PM  

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