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, August 30, 2007

Set 195



1073. 3" long:













1074. 8-1/2" tall, patented in 1872:













1075. 3-1/4" OD, 1-1/4" ID, 7/8" thick, submitted by a visitor who is looking to find the exact purpose of this lock:













1076. 2" tall, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses on this one:









A different model of the same piece of hardware:
















1077. 9"-11" long:













1078. 23" long:
























To submit photos, click on the profile link at the upper right to find my email address.

























Answers
























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








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.

Labels: ,

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Set 194

The first three this week are unidentified tools that were sent in by visitors.


1067. 5" long, text on it reads:"8-2/0", "M&T" and "RM=00":



















1068. 12-1/2" long:













1069. This one was found in a second hand shop in Omaha, Nebraska; here is the owner's description of it:
It is made of wood, 47-1/2" long, top 11" is 7-1/2" around and the rest is 5-1/2" around. There is a wooden plug (that has a 7/8" hole in it) that goes into a 1-1/4" hole that goes thru to the bottom where there appears to be a marble. The bottom has a 1/4" criss cross 1/4" deep. Inside there is a 1/2" wooden dowel 44" long. Also 4" from the top there is a 1-3/8" hole on one side.

















1070. 50" long:





A similar tool except that the jaws are angled:













1071. 3-1/2" long as seen in this first photo:



















1072. 6-3/4" long, for more guesses on this device take a look at Neatorama.















































Answers
























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








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.

Labels:

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Set 193



1061. 4" long, another photo from Simon:













1062. 2-3/4" long:













1063. 10' tall:



















1064. 3/16" diameter, with a U.S. quarter:













1065. 7" long, made of lead, wood, and leather, submitted by a visitor:

Larger image












1066. 8-1/4" long, invented in 1862, for more guesses on this device take a look at Neatorama.

Larger image













































Answers
























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








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.

Labels:

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Set 192



1055. 6-7/8" long, the pointer on the top is made of a thin piece of steel and will easily spring back and forth:








The knob on the back loosens the front and allows it to be rotated:

Turning the part on the far left moves the indicator in the center and adjusts the tension on the pointer.


The lower piece can also be rotated and then locked into place with the knob on the right:

The black part at the very bottom appears to be made of bakelite.












1056. 4" long:













1057. 6" diameter:
















1058. 24" long:
















1059. 40" tall:

Larger image












1060. The brass base is 3-1/4" long, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses on this device.










































Answers
























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








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.

Labels: ,