What is this? Recognize it? Used for?

[Bill Foster]

http://www.stevenferris.com/whatisit.jpg

Anybody here recognize this? Does it have a name? What's it used for?

Thanks.

 

[berkeman]

It was used in physical therapy for certain kinds of injuries. You're welcome.

 

[phinds]

Actually, it looks more like it was designed to CAUSE injuries

 

[Bill Foster]

I won't dispute your claim. But...HOW? And for what kinds of injuries?

 

[Pengwuino]

"certain kinds"

 

[Bill Foster]

"certain kinds"

Ah, of course. It all makes sense now. thanks.

 

[berkeman]

No wait, I see it now. It's a microscope focusing stand. I missed how light the beaded string was before. It has to actuate a light load with a light touch. You clamp a microscope stage in the C-clamp part, and can use the beaded string for focusing. That's my story and I'm sticking with it. For now.

 

[Drakkith]

That's what we are going to use to "fix" Phinds.

 

[Evo]

That's what we are going to use to "fix" Phinds.

 

[Drakkith]

Evo, it's either that or we get out the "unmentionable object".

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

This device was custom designed by the Acme Manufacturing Group for one of their most loyal customers. It was used to capture a kind of fast moving flightless bird. You can see the ingenious design and fine craftsmanship throughout. You simply attach catgut to the bow fitting it into the notches at the top and bottom. Then you insert yourself rigidly into the bowstring and stretch it taut. Pulling on the chain will release the tension in the catgut and propel you at great speed toward your target. If all goes well, you will be living large.

 

[jim mcnamara]

If all goes well, you will be living large

Or not living, period.

 

[Bill Foster]

No wait, I see it now. It's a microscope focusing stand. I missed how light the beaded string was before. It has to actuate a light load with a light touch. You clamp a microscope stage in the C-clamp part, and can use the beaded string for focusing. That's my story and I'm sticking with it. For now.

I'm skeptical.

The notches on the arms of the C clamp look like they're meant for something like string.

The arms looks like they're meant for holding something under tension. There's probably a spring inside the box providing the tension.

The chain releases the tension. The chain only works in one direction.

Beside, aren't microscopes focused with knobs?

 

[256bits]

Yours is an early version of the chatty jaw with some parts missing.
You pull the chain to simulate motion .

 

[phinds]

that's what we are going to use to "fix" phinds.

aaaaiiiieee !

 

[Drakkith]

aaaaiiiieee !

You knew this was coming Phinds.

 

[Bill Foster]

I'll bet some 80 year old high school science teacher knows what it is.

 

[lisab]

OK now let's think about this...there are notches in each of the arms, like you could string something between them - like a rubber band?

 

[drizzle]

OK now let's think about this...there are notches in each of the arms, like you could string something between them - like a rubber band?

Lol Lisab!

What the hell is that? This device seems so prosaic and useless, my hands would do whatever that 'thing' is suppose to do in no time... Unless it's a mesuring tool?.. No it's not..

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING!

 

[ImaLooser]

http://www.stevenferris.com/whatisit.jpg

Anybody here recognize this? Does it have a name? What's it used for?

Thanks.

I think it is for firing rubber bands. The are stretched by hand, latched, and the chain is a release. The giveaway are the little grooves for holding the bands. The kind of thing people do for fun in a bar. There is probably a target, bets are laid, etc.

 

[edward]

It was used by Chrysler to install bearings in car mufflers.

 

[edward]

Seriously it looks like it was used to lift something someone didn't want to touch. Ok so that is going to get some wacko comments.

 

[OmCheeto]

It looks like something that wanted to be down first, and then up second.

I'm voting for that thing that old style projectionists used cover the lens of the first projector when the first film reel was done and the second reel was ready.

Not that I've ever been an old style projectionist.

Wait a minute.

I know one.

I'll call my brother!

 

[edward]

The only place it appears in google images is in forum threads that are asking...What the hell is that?

 

[jim mcnamara]

It clearly cannot have been made in the past 30 years - it is all metal. Of course the acid test for dating would be to look for the 'Made in China' stamp. 'Made in Japan' would date it to the 1950's. :)

 

[Jonathan Scott]

Note the sort of guide rail up the side of the post, which stops short of the top, then the notch in the bottom edge of the sleeve and the more worn patch just above the top of the guide rail. That suggests to me that it is designed to be raised up above the top of the guide rail then turned until the notch holds it in place.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Strange that the guide rail only goes down so far, but the paint is worn off of the post far below the slider.

 

[Evo]

The notches in the arms were to secure a chain or clasp that would close the arms around a glass container. The chain would raise or lower the container over a burner, or as someone suggested, release the clasp instead.

The item appears to be brass, I believe that the color is patina, not paint.

It was the predecessor to this thing.

http://agarwallabglassware.com/product/assemblies/2730.jpg

 

[Astronuc]

It's an old-fashioned multi-functional brass doohickey with a chain driven, vertically adjustable thingamajig. The missing thingamabob is separate.

 

[edward]

It was definitely meant to be raised and lowered and then turned at the top once it was past the guide rail. Note the notch in the moveable part.

 

[Bill Foster]

The upper arm is immobile. The chain attaches to something which leads into the box. I imagine that when the chain is pulled, it pulls that lower arm up, against spring loaded tension from inside the box.

Whatever it's meant to hold, it cannot be too heavy, or the whole thing will tip over, given the moment arm since it looks like it's mean to hold it at the top of the shaft. So a beaker full of liquid is out of the question.

 

[Evo]

The upper arm is immobile. The chain attaches to something which leads into the box. I imagine that when the chain is pulled, it pulls that lower arm up, against spring loaded tension from inside the box.

Whatever it's meant to hold, it cannot be too heavy, or the whole thing will tip over, given the moment arm since it looks like it's mean to hold it at the top of the shaft. So a beaker full of liquid is out of the question.

The beaker would likely only hold a tiny amount.

 

[Bill Foster]

I don't see how a beaker would attach to those arms anyway.

 

[nazarbaz]

This thread could be a lot more interesting to an archeologist from the future than the object itself... A civilisation sinking in an ocean of useless stuff looking nonetheless for some meaning and purpose to what it did not so long ago...

 

[dlgoff]

My attachment says it all.

Similar to:

 

[jim mcnamara]

[P I T A]
Nice try - when was brass declared a resistive material? Musta missed that one.
[/P I T A] - had to edit the dummy dumb-xxx psuedo-code tags because of the "filter" on three letter words that mean butt.
[/color]

I feel just as confused as ever.

 

[dlgoff]

zoom in and you'll see the strip (resistive material) isn't attached to the brass. maybe.

 

[jim mcnamara]

PS: I thought the profanity filter worked generally on four letter words. --- is a word that means diminuative cousin of the horse. Missed that. Of course --- hole would be descriptive but a real problem in post.

 

[Michael Redei]

zoom in and you'll see the strip isn't attached to the brass. maybe.

I think the technical term for what you all seem to think of as brass is, actually, "muck". And as materials go, this is immensly resistive, at least to cleaning.

My guess is that this photo shows HÄGAR, an unsucessful prototype of a new IKEA lamp.

 

[Dadface]

1.Search around in the dusty corners of your lab for broken bits of ancient equipment.
2.Lay the bits out on a bench and look at them with a thoughtful expression.
3.Choose some of the bits so that you have an eclectic mixture.
4.Cobble the chosen bits together to make a random structure.
5.Take a photograph of your handiwork and send it to PF under the heading:
What the ____ Is that?--- part 2.

 

[Bill Foster]

You all haven't identified this contraption yet?

 

[Evo]

You all haven't identified this contraption yet?

I already guessed what it is. The others just haven't admitted I'm right.