Crazy Iron 4 Bar linkage gizmo... any ideas on what it is?

[mdmike]

Found this in an old trash dump many years ago and its make for an interesting paperweight and conversation piece... But I've not ever figured out what it was for. Any ideas? The mechanism swivels on the base. There's an adjustment nut on the spring to adjust tension?

 

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[ticndig]

It looks to be a foot operated control of some type . maybe a machine ? the spring returns the control to off when no longer depressed .

the curved arm with the teeth seems to shows wear at the top from contact with what ever it operated.
very interesting , I'd love to see a pic of what ever it used to operate.

 

[Tony in SC]

Looks like a staking press or rivet tool type device. Parts may be missing.

 

[bradyboy]

i that a fully compressed spring in the middle?
perhaps the nipple at the bottom of the spring will offer and explanation
brady

 

[ticndig]

bump

 

[Georgivs]

Dang that's cool! Looks very steampunk, wonder if maybe it drove some kind of fly wheel?

 

[ticndig]

to me it looks foot activated with a spring return , but what did it go to?

 

[firemanphob]

Looks foot activated and possibly powering a flywheel by means of a small gear on a shaft with an override clutch that would let the pedal power the small gear which would add torque to the flywheel and the override clutch would let the thing cycle back to get another pump. I have seen this somewhere but can't for the life of me remember where.

 

[GoldieLocks]

The X shape is very deliberate and formal. I think it could brand wood, or something downward when turning the screw mechanism?

 

[nagant]

twine reel off a ancient baler?