Non MD find - Brass What's it? Electrical? Plumbing?

[julesjunk]

Picked this up at an estate sale. Nothing else at the sale would suggest, or lead me to conclude it's use. All but the center shaft is made of Brass. The three prong spaceship looking piece is spring loaded with the very end, with a fairly strong Spring. The other end is hinged, and slides back and forth easily. This end is "barbed" in such a way, it suggests they are inserted, expanded, and then used to pull something out??

Thanks in advance!

 

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[cudamark]

Specialized slide hammer puller?

 

[julesjunk]

That crossed my mind. I visualized an automotive dent puller. But seems a little obtuse to have the three fins. Thanks for chiming in.

 

[marion moore]

maybe some type of reamer, never seen anything like it before.

marion

 

[julesjunk]

Possibly. The "arms" spin freely though. So you would have to spin them manually, probably at that collar, which has two flat sides. Possibly for an adjustable wrench, etc. Thanks.

 

[Batch]

Hello!

For some reason a steam engine (or other motor) governor comes to mind. The large rounded end - does it look as if it maybe rotated in a bearing? If possible, could you post a short video of how it moves? How "friction free" does it move? Do the serrations on the "tongs" (or arms) seem to have wear marks from having "grabbed onto" something? If held vertical and spun by the fins do the arms rotate and seem to spread out? The brass does suggest a need for corrosion resistance. Sorry for all the questions but am just trying to gather info. This will be a fun one!

Respectfully,

Batch

 

[julesjunk]

Batch, like your line of thinking. I wasn't ever comfortable with it being a stand alone hand tool of sorts. And it definitely has a Train or Steam engine vibe. I'll try to video it, but I'm not too handy at tech. For now, let me offer a few more details. The tongs slide back and forth freely, approx 2 1/2". No bearings. The thin block at the end of the center rod keeps the tongs from spinning. Only light wear on the barbs. Which are definitely uni directional. Much like a saw blade. They 'barb' in the direction of pulling the tongs back in. The bulb at the other end is stationary with the center rod. The rocket ship part spins, and is spring loaded against the bulb. Rather stiff, moving just a little better than an inch. My guess is no bearings in there either. Just slightly tight tolerances.
Thanks for showing interest.

 

[Anduril]

The first thing that pops into my mind is that this is a sleeve puller for an engine cylinder.

Of course, the first that pops into my mind is quite often WRONG!

Interesting gadget -- I'll be watching this thread for sure.

 

[Mudflap]

Maybe a bushing puller. Interesting.

 

[julesjunk]

Bump now that some of you are froze. Asked a few mechanical minded people, but no closer to solving it. Any ideas?.......

Thanks in advance!

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It looks like the rod is threaded? If you hold the two arms and spin the end does it cause them to spread? To me it looks like some sort of anchoring system maybe, but that's probably not what it is just from the size of it....

 

[julesjunk]

Ken,
The small rod is threaded, just at the end. It appears just for disassembly. The arms don't have to spin in order to slide/open. However, I'm now thinking the thicker flat sided area at the base end of the arms suggests that an adjustable wrench could be used to spin the arms. I would be more comfortable with this theory if the barbs were slightly angled (like threads), rather than straight. Though, the spring loaded end could force the arms in deeper........ Now I'm back to it being some sort of pulling device, much like a dent puller. Just don't understand the Johnny Socko robot style end?

On another note, I don't get out, or post much these days, but I vaguely remember crossing posting paths with you years back. My wife is from Pekin, as well as you, if memory serves.

"Kill the body, and the head will die..... "

Regards,
Julian

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Ken,
The small rod is threaded, just at the end. It appears just for disassembly. The arms don't have to spin in order to slide/open. However, I'm now thinking the thicker flat sided area at the base end of the arms suggests that an adjustable wrench could be used to spin the arms. I would be more comfortable with this theory if the barbs were slightly angled (like threads), rather than straight. Though, the spring loaded end could force the arms in deeper........ Now I'm back to it being some sort of pulling device, much like a dent puller. Just don't understand the Johnny Socko robot style end?

On another note, I don't get out, or post much these days, but I vaguely remember crossing posting paths with you years back. My wife is from Pekin, as well as you, if memory serves.

"Kill the body, and the head will die..... "

Regards,
Julian

Ah, yeah, Pekin Il that's me.... This thing is odd for sure but I can't help but think I've seen something really similar to it somewhere...

 

[Bruce R]

It is definitely a slide hammer puller, the fact that it’s brass suggests that it’s used either in water ( so it doesn’t rust ) or used around something flammable or explosive ( so it doesn’t make sparks ) It doesn’t look like it had any hard usage. Maybe its one of those “gimmick “ tools like the robogrip or the electric hammer.

 

[A2coins]

That's for picking up finds that your not sure what they are before you touch it lol

 

[DCMatt]

Vintage valve spring compressor tool?

 

[julesjunk]

Bruce,
I like the no corrosion/no sparks angle. And I agree. It's not been used much, if at all. Barbs are sharp, and undamaged. I also agree it's some sort of slide hammer. Though in this case, the hammer effect "pushes" rather than pulls.
Happy Holidays,
Jules

 

[julesjunk]

That's for picking up finds that your not sure what they are before you touch it lol

Are we still talking about the Brass thingy, or my wife??.....

 

[DCMatt]

It must be a bearing or seal puller. Maybe a specialty tool from a now defunct auto maker. Here is a pic of a puller for a Ford tractor trans.



Not exactly the same but you get the idea...

 

[julesjunk]

It must be a bearing or seal puller. Maybe a specialty tool from a now defunct auto maker. Here is a pic of a puller for a Ford tractor trans.

View attachment 1531681

Not exactly the same but you get the idea...

Agreed. I think we've basically narrowed it down. Would be neat to know it's exact application though. You know. In case it's a muffler bearing puller on one of the Apollo Space missions.....