✅ SOLVED Test your skills on this one! Spent years trying to ID this.

musclecar

Full Member
Oct 15, 2006
132
1
Nampa Idaho
Detector(s) used
White MXT
I found this in Alaska about 10 years ago, and have never been able to ID it. It is an aluminum piece, about 3 inches square. It has 15 teeth and is numbered 1-15. There is a stop preventing it from spinning freely. The back has two tabs that may have been used to mount it. ANY GUESSES?

Thanks,

MC

PS The quarter used for size was found yesterday! 1935S Yeah!
 

Attachments

  • dial1.jpg
    dial1.jpg
    71.7 KB · Views: 40,797
  • dial2.jpg
    dial2.jpg
    68 KB · Views: 38,902
  • dial3.jpg
    dial3.jpg
    73.4 KB · Views: 38,913

MiddenMonster

Bronze Member
Dec 29, 2004
1,199
1,548
Down in the pit
Detector(s) used
Garrett 350 GTA
musclecar said:
I found this in Alaska about 10 years ago, and have never been able to ID it. It is an aluminum piece, about 3 inches square. It has 15 teeth and is numbered 1-15. There is a stop preventing it from spinning freely. The back has two tabs that may have been used to mount it. ANY GUESSES?

My guess is a counter for keeping track of maintenence or some other task.
 

Upvote 0
T

TreasureTales

Guest
Hmmmm, most intriguing. What gets counted to 15 before starting over? Most things are counted in sets of 10, the decimal system. Hmmm, perhaps in counting liquid ounces? Hit 15 and the next ounce gets counted as a pint? The aluminum composition must mean that whatever it was used for, it wouldn't necessarily take a beating or be roughly handled since aluminum won't hold up to abuse like steel would, although it won't rust like steel would, which leads me back to liquid measure. I'll be anxiously awaiting the correct answer...if we ever get one.
 

Upvote 0

jeff of pa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 19, 2003
85,842
59,627
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Have you ever Adjusted Breaks on a Vehicle with a screwdriver ?

You stuck a screwdriver Between teeth like this in clicked them.


I say It's an Adjuster for something ;)
 

Attachments

  • 00index.jpg
    00index.jpg
    68.1 KB · Views: 37,828
Upvote 0

dg39

Bronze Member
Mar 30, 2006
1,869
37
Deep in the swamps of Louisiana..
Detector(s) used
Ace 250--White's 6000 DI Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
jeff of pa said:
Have you ever Adjusted Breaks on a Vehicle with a screwdriver ?

You stuck a screwdriver Between teeth like this in clicked them.


I say It's an Adjuster for something ;)
I'm with jeff, an adjustor of some type.
 

Upvote 0

MiddenMonster

Bronze Member
Dec 29, 2004
1,199
1,548
Down in the pit
Detector(s) used
Garrett 350 GTA
The problem with the idea that it is a piece of machinery is that there is no visible linkage that would connect it to anything. I think that whatever it is, it had to be operated by hand. TreasureTales asked what gets counted to 15, and noted that most things get counted in groups of 10. That may be true for objects and items, but what about duty cycles, tasks and other intangibles? I'm still thinking that it is a counter, and that it was used to track usage or when preventive maintenence was due or parts needed to be replaced.
 

Upvote 0

PBK

Gold Member
May 25, 2005
6,380
269
dg39 said:
The end on a hand operated pencil sharpener?

Don't think so, as there doesn't seem to be anything different about the indvidual, numbered semicircular spaces. Can't see any way for it to vary the size of pencil accepted, length to be sharpened, fineness of point, etc.

Nevertheless, it's an interesting guess— and a perfect excuse to post this link to a great site on antique pencil sharpeners!

http://www.officemuseum.com/pencil_sharpeners.htm
 

Upvote 0

Montana Jim

Gold Member
Sep 18, 2006
11,697
148
Montana
Nevertheless, it's an interesting guess— and a perfect excuse to post this link to a great site on antique pencil sharpeners!

Dang... LOL... How long you been waiting to use THAT excuse PBK?
 

Upvote 0

PBK

Gold Member
May 25, 2005
6,380
269
Montana Jim said:
Nevertheless, it's an interesting guess— and a perfect excuse to post this link to a great site on antique pencil sharpeners!

Dang... LOL... How long you been waiting to use THAT excuse PBK?

Easy there, MJ! I'm a mite like those old-time pencil sharpeners... I get to the point, but I can be a little cranky doing it! ;)

(J/K :D)
 

Upvote 0

mech

Full Member
Jun 4, 2006
238
0
St Petersburg, Florida
Detector(s) used
Tesoro Tiger Shark
I got it!!! 15 millilitres = 1 tablespoon! LOL :)

anywho.. my guess would be

a scale..many hand held spring type fish scales come in 15 lb versions...but
you would expect to see a zero on the dial eh?

my second guess..
due to its aluminum lightweight construction it was simply an indicator on some type of machine or appliance and just gave a visual # of where you were set at..speed control, heat setting..??
(aa is see you posted the same thought as I was typing :) )

cheers,
 

Upvote 0

jeff of pa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 19, 2003
85,842
59,627
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Is there such a thing as a 15 Minute Egg ?
 

Upvote 0

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top