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 25, 2007

Set 203

1122. 600" long:













1123. 54" tall x 8" diameter, the tag above the handle reads "A.A.I. Expedition":













1124. 17-1/2" long:

















1125. 8-1/4" long, submitted by a visitor who is looking to find what it was used for, the other side is stamped "BERG 1G" and it appears to be solid gold:













1126. 5-1/2" long, this metal box was made to hold something specific:













1127. 3" long, there are two tapes connected here, one can be pulled out from each side:



The first tape is marked "Breaching" and "Pressure", the other "Steel" and "Timber"




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1128. This kit is over 100 years old and is made up of a metal container and five glass pieces, three of which are stored under the two visible below:

From Gil Gandenberger's collection


The container has a thermometer on the side of it:




Close-up image
More guesses on this one at Neatorama


These portraits are on the labels located inside of the glass pieces:
























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, October 18, 2007

Set 202

1115. 7" long:

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1116. 8" long, from the 1860's, more guesses on this device can be found at Neatorama:




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1117. 10" long:

-Parts A, B, and C are connected and move as one piece.
-Part D is connected to handle 1, see second photo.
-To operate, hold handle 1 with the right hand, and turn handle 2 with the left, 2 will make contact with A, causing shaft C to rotate, handle 2 will next strike B, rotating C in the opposite direction.
-Continuous turning of the handle results in a back and forth rotation of shaft C.
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1118. 12" long:

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1119. 6-1/2" long:

When the handles are fully compressed there is a 1/4" gap between the jaws, they are 5/8" apart in this photo.












1120. 9-1/2" long:













1121. 6" long, submitted by a visitor:





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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, October 11, 2007

Set 201

1109. 7" tall:













1110. Approximately 22" long, more guesses on this one and a chance to win a t-shirt at Neatorama:

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From Jack Devitt's collection












1111. 9-3/8" long, maybe someone can tell me what this hook is for, I've shown it to a lot of people but no one has been able to identify it, the only text on it is "SP":

















1112. 7-3/4" long:













1113. 12-3/4" long, patented in 1888:
















1114a. Submitted by a visitor who is looking to find the purpose of this device:

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The owner's description:

1.The box is 17"L x 5 1/4 " H x 4 7/8" W.--- 2.Metal tag in top of testing area reads Roller-Smith Co. Type B Instrument # 1445 -Bethlehem Pa. ---3. It is hand dated 8/13/18 on warranty sticker attached to bottom--- 4."Battery Instructions" attached to the bottom of the box indicate it was powered by 2 flashlight batteries.--- 5.There is a small swing needle meter with + , - and center indicator (see picture 1114e)----6. The white scale strips which run the length of the box are numbered but do not indicate what is being measured. There are four sets of numbers on the scales ---brown ---- black ---- red ---blue and at the right end of the box there is a copper bar which has corresponding colors with a plug-in attached to a cloth covered electrical conductor running down into the box. The scale strips start at 0 on upper scale strip top right end and continues to 1000 on upper strip left top end then drops down to lower strip left top end and continues from 1000 to 200000 on lower strip top right end (see close-up picture 1114c) . ---- 7. Running down the length of the white scale strips in their centers is stretched a fine wire (see yellow arrow in picture 1114c)---also see hand held probe attached to a cloth covered conductor --- I'm thinking the probe was run along the wire by hand until the swing meter needle centered and thus a reading of the number at location of the probe was made. 8. Also there are two loose "Percentage Scale for Ohm/meter" strips. When laid on the white scale strips they were perhaps a means to measure resistance (see picture 1114d). When not in use the ohm strips are held by clips in the cover of the box (see picture 1114b)


1114b.

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Two close-ups:

1114c.

1114d.



1114e.
























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, October 04, 2007

Set 200

This post could be my most difficult set so far, the only one that I know the answer to is number 1106.


1103. 2-1/2" long:


The owner got this at a flea market years ago where he was told it was part of a kit for a car. There used to be writing on the green side and a horizontal line across the middle of it. The object is completely sealed.














1104. Found in Illinois:

























1105. 6" diameter, submitted from Texas:

In the center hole is a wood ball with shallow grooves running from one end to the other, it spins and seems to be on an axle to keep it at the height of the opening. The lid does not come off.












1106. 9-1/2" tall:

















1107. 9" long, from New Hampshire, the upper part can be rotated to the left about 135 degrees:

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1108. 7" long:

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The owner's description:

I obtained this at a store in Australia, the manager just called it a "Thing". No one knows what it's used for. It is well made, from steel, and the tube has been blued on the outside like a rifle barrel. The plunger and block are slip fit into the tube bore and made air-tight with the "O" rings. Air is exhausted through the tiny holes either end of the tube when the plunger slides into it. The knurled grip knob has been welded to the plunger shaft. It has not been used as a punch because there are no hammer marks on the plunger knob end, also the rubber mounted pin would not be strong enough to take the punching force. Why has it got outer "O" rings on the tube? When assembled the plunger pin just protrudes out the block pin hole and can slide in and out.


1108a.

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Five more annotated photos:

1108b.

1108c.

1108d.

1108e.

1108f.
























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.