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, June 28, 2006

702. 8-3/4" long









703. 2" cube with a 1-1/4" diameter dowel, explain how together these two can be both a puzzle and a science demo:








704. 15" long as seen below:


Pumping the handle spins the other end.








705. 14" long






706.








707. 19" tall















Answers















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





Thursday, June 22, 2006

696. 3-3/4" long




The button in the center is used to unlock the part that looks like a screwdriver, it rotates to open and close:






697. 2-3/4" long







698. Partial shot, thanks to Don for this photo:






699. 10" long






700. 13-1/2" long








701. 15" long, patented May 21, 1908












Answers















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





Thursday, June 15, 2006

690. 4-1/8" long


Spring returned to this position:


With plunger pushed:


And with plunger pulled:





691. These are similar to safety glasses except that the sides and most of the front are opaque; just the lower areas are transparent:







692.






693. 10-3/4" long






694. Thanks to Ray for this one, the tool looks to be two or three feet long:






695. 1-1/2" diameter, thanks to Leo Lichtman for submitting this photo:












Answers














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





Thursday, June 08, 2006

684. 12-3/4" tall







685. Partial shot of something most people have seen before, I don't own this one:







686. A visitor sent in this photo looking to identify these items, her description of it is below:

This device was found on a restored historical structure here in Maryland. It appears to be a metal electrical enclosure with something on the cover of it, and a long wire hanging down from it to a stylus like point which is hung via two brackets on the ceiling of a porch.






687. 22-1/2" long, the shaft attached to the handle is hollow and has a slot from end to end:







688. Another unidentified tool from a visitor, 12" long:


With a child's hand holding down the lever:











689.





















Answers















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





Labels: , , ,

Thursday, June 01, 2006

678. 5/8" diameter







679. 10-3/4" long, I'm looking for the slightly more descriptive term for this type of hammer, and why you would use it.







680. 1-3/4" long







681. 17" long, thanks to Charlie for submitting this tool:









682. 9-1/4" long


The other end is the same except for the bolt:


Turning the bolt expands both ends from 1-3/4" diameter up to 2-1/8":







683. 6" wide, thanks to Don for this one, and also for the pencil sharpener a couple weeks ago:















Answers














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