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

[musclecar]

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!

 

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[dg39]

What we have here after extensive study is a brass acorn counter. The factory could only turn out fifteen per day under union rules. I found the solution very simple after I got all the facts together.

DG

 

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[Copperhead]

musclecar, How much money will it take for you to delete this post?...

 

[BioProfessor]

I say we start a collection to send him to the next Antiques Roadshow. Let them tear their hair out.

Daryl

 

[N.J.THer]

I've just come to the conclusion that something should never be dug up. Musclecar if you remember exactly where you found this item please go back, dig a very large hole and bury it with this post.

My theory is that for every 100 replies to this post the counter moves up one number and when it hits 1500 post the world ends. Ohhh the humanity....

Only kidding but I have to admit I have not read anymore of the posts since about 150-175.

Good luck.

NJ

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I think it would be easiest to invent a machine that uses it. Reverse engineer the part.

Now about that 15-a-Day brass acorn counter . . .

 

[CRUSADER]

What are you trying to achieve here, the Guiness Book of Records for the longest whatzit. If so your freakin close, so I thought I would add this pointless rant. Because I'm a friend & want to help out

If I told you what it was I would kill the game

 

[BioProfessor]

Don't we have to find another one or a picture or it to verify what it is. Now that's where the fun is going to come in.

One more post to the thread from hell.

Daryl

 

[Old Dog]

Musclecar,
Are all the teeth the same thickness?

If not, Using the idea that it has to be something simple that we aren't seeing.
A gauge to measure the gaps in mechanical devices would need to be as adjustable and simple as this looks to be.

only a thought,
OD

 

[dg39]

I'm not giving up!
DG

 

[GOLDFINGER61]

Maybe a spark plug gauge..

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!

 

[Greengoose]

O.K. After watching this post for such a long time, here is my two cents..

This may be part of a rachet reel that lets line out for a set number of feet when releasing a weather balloon with a Radiosonde attached.
A Radiosonde is a radio that detects temperature, humity and pressure. And can be tracked for winds. They are expendable and lost after use.
I have yet to find a picture of the reel.

 

[trikikiwi]

It's seems to be a light weight item not designed for a heavy job & heavy use.

This is a key clue I believe, and (as a possibility) as one of my knowledgeable mates pointed out, lightly made, think aeroplanes.

The stamping/pressing is very precise, the quality is obvious, there must be more of these.

We Shall Find Them !!

Cheers, Mike

 

[N.J.THer]

I still think it's temperature adjustment wheel for an old freezer. It has a stop on it so it can't "unwind" very far. (to 15 & that's it) It has no return spring so it can't reset it self back to zero automatically after reaching 15. The teeth & wheel are way too thin to be used as a drive sprocket of any kind & show no wear of being used that way. The spaces in the wheel fit the tip of your finger. It's seems to be a light weight item not designed for a heavy job & heavy use. So that means little weight & light use. Now think about how many times have you adjusted the temp in your freezer in the last 10 years?

I think Rtde3 is right. From the part in the picture you can see it look identical. Is anyone going to the local junkyard soon and if so look for on of the freezers and see if you can take apart the temperature adjustment for a nice picture of the insides. And aluminum would make sense so it would not rust from the condensation.

Good luck...

NJ

 

[Foilman]

I have a couple thoughts.

1) A fisherman wants to go to sea for a month. 15 days out 15 days to get back!

2) A month dial for a waxing and waning for tide calculation.

3) A cog for a moon dial on a grandfathers' clock

4) A cog for acreage calculation on a grain drill or feed planter.

5) I like the freezer theory too.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It's a Catholic Scapular medal for St. Quindecim - the patron saint of the number fifteen.

 

[Old Dog]

quote from Daryl

I say we start a collection to send him to the next Antiques Roadshow. Let them tear their hair out.

Daryl,

Hey professor,
Put me down for five

OD

 

[BamaBill]

Dunno, but it brings to mind some interesting ideas:

1. Early Indian Labelmaker?

2. Keep count of the kids?

3. Primitive Birth Control Container?

or a Tension Device?

 

[fleamarketmutt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_(number)

 

[jefferelli]

after reading and scrolling through this extended adventure everyone has endured for so long.....the sleepless nights of your minds working overtime..... i have to agree with the gentleman who have said this is a temperature setting device on an icebox...its old that for sure... but flip it to its back side and look at in 3-d .... and picture 2 wires attached & extending and mounted in-side a aluminum enclosed box with a no# window ....attached to left side of an ice box .......bingo baby!!!! 8) 8)

 

[Old Dog]

Musclecar,

No offence Buddy, Some of these people asked some serious questions.
You don't answer,
I don't think you care,
We are on to you ....
So take this thing ,,,,,,





and reburry it .

OD