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, July 27, 2006

726. "Ideal Tool Co., Rochester N.Y."



4-5/8" long overall, the pointed part can pivot approx. 25 degrees in any direction,


and the main piece can be loosened and rotated 360 degrees:







727. Submitted by a visitor looking to verify the identity of this item:
















728. Another photo from Martin, this tool measures 17" from the tip to the bottom of the aluminum section, the exact use for the hook is unknown:

The pole is broken off shortly past the edge of the picture and on the other side along the aluminum tube is a steel strap 7" long, riveted in two places and bent in a curve at the top end, as if it might have held a rope.






729. 2" long:








730. The image below is part of a small project that I made the other day, the puzzle is to determine the nature of the project:








731. 2-7/8" long







The information below has been posted for visitors who are new to this web site:

Every Thursday morning when a new set of photos is added, I crosspost a link to this site on rec.puzzles, rec.woodworking, and rec.crafts.metalworking; so more guesses and discussions can be found on these newsgroups. Look for a thread entitled "What is it?" followed by roman numerals.

Visitor submitted photos are welcome, though I have a couple of requests for future submissions:

-Please put "What is it?" in the subject line of the email, I get a large amount of spam and delete everything without a relevant title.

-I prefer that rulers not be included in the photos, so please just give the dimensions of the object in the email along with any other pertinent info.

My email address can be found under my profile, along with links to some of my other web sites.

There are lots more photos in the archives, the easiest way to look through them is to go month by month with the links on the right.

A number of people have asked about my camera, I use a Sony model DSC-F505V, it's not very new but it has a decent macro lens on it:














Answers
















Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the full post:





Wednesday, July 19, 2006

720. 2-7/8" inside diameter


Shown in locked position:







721. 9-1/4" long, another photo from Leon:










722. 3-1/2" tall








723. 3-3/8" long:








724. 8" long










725. 3-1/8" long, not sure exactly what this is, in the photos below you can see where someone has used a hand engraver to write "USAAF", the other side reads "Yates Mfg. Co. Glendale, Calif."




















Answers














Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the full post:





Thursday, July 13, 2006

714. 3" diameter







715. 17" long










716. 2-1/4" diameter, thanks to Leo Lichtman for this photo:








717. 10-1/2" long:








718. Thanks to Martin for submitting this unidentified tool, the revolving "blades" are covered with heavy leather, Pat'd Sep 11,1888:








719. Controls for a device that some will recognize:


A larger image can be seen here.















Answers














Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the full post:





Thursday, July 06, 2006

708. 5-1/8" long, Pratt & Whitney 1950







709. 12" long











710. 14" long, unidentified piece of hardware that was found on a farm in Idaho, thanks to Gary for these photos:


Text on it reads: "W.I.C." and "W6"







711. Partial shot of something most everyone has seen before:






712. 4-1/2" long








713. 5-3/4" long












Without tools man is nothing, with tools he is all.
Thomas Carlyle









Answers














Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the full post: