✅ 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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[Bigcypresshunter]

Goodyguy, since your the new owner and the torch has been passed on to you, it will be your responsibility to answer questions. Just curious, does the wheel spin? How easily does it turn?

 

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[Goodyguy]

After having it in my possession I am comfortable in ruling out "camera part" which was my original guess over a year ago. Unless it was a part to a play camera and had no function other than to pretend.

When a number is centered in front of the pointer, then a point of the sprocket is centered straight across from the number. I believe that the wheel was designed to be advanced by using a finger to move the wheel. The distance between the points is 9/16" Way too small for a frame of film.

The numbered wheel is held on by a single rivet in the center as stated earlier there is no post for the wheel only the rivet.

I am fairly sure the wheel was meant to be advanced by hand until the stop prevents it from going past 14. The stop prevents the small number 15 from lining up with the pointer. Then the wheel must be rotated in reverse by hand until it hits the stop. when that happens the pointer now lines up with the small number 15 then one move starts it back at 1 again.

Also the little raised tab stop does not look like anything has ever been attached to it.
It's only function being a stop.

GG~

BCH you posted while I was writing this. The wheel moves freely with nothing to hold the wheel on a number. Which leads me to believe that the wheel must have been meant to be placed horizontally.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Just think about the film counter for a while. The holes would need to be the same distance (or multiples) apart as the fingers on the wheel. This is ok with small format film, but the camera then wouldn't have a 3" wheel in it. To advance a number on the wheel, the film frame would have to be about the same width as the finger spacing. Either that or have the holes further apart and let the wheel just grind away at the film until it finds and drops into the next hole.

Ingroller ruined a roll of 120 film to show us that it has no sprocket holes. Post #580. I am not sure how this type film is advanced but the posted old camera patent had a numbered sprocket. Does anybody know why some of the old 120 cameras had a sprocket wheel even though the film had no holes? You can see in this diagram that the sprocket does not penetrate this film.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

This has driven me insane forever.

I have decided (in my own mind, of course), that it is either a glucose meter counter (15/30, since it has space for 2 counts) or a birth control pill dispenser part!

There, now I will be able to sleep at night

B

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

After having it in my possession I am comfortable in ruling out "camera part" which was my original guess over a year ago. Unless it was a part to a play camera and had no function other than to pretend.

When a number is centered in front of the pointer then a point of the sprocket is centered straight across from the number. I believe that the wheel was designed to be advanced by using a finger to move the wheel. The distance between the points is 9/16" Way too small for a frame of film.

The numbered wheel is held on by a single rivet in the center as stated earlier there is no post for the wheel only the rivet.

I am fairly sure the wheel was meant to be advanced by hand until the stop prevents it from going past 14. The stop prevents the small number 15 from lining up with the pointer. Then the wheel must be rotated in reverse by hand until it hits the stop. when that happens the pointer now lines up with the small number 15 then one move starts it back at 1 again.

Also the little raised tab stop does not look like anything has ever been attached to it.
It's only function being a stop.

Buddy~

BCH you posted while I was writing this. The wheel moves freely with nothing to hold the wheel on a number. Which leads me to believe that the wheel must have been meant to be placed horizontally.

I just realized that the purpose of the sprockets (on this patent) are designed so that they stick out of the camera case to be turned by a finger here. (I think) ...and the number shows in the window (6).

 

[Goodyguy]

To be honest I am leaning to agreeing with an earlier post that it must be some kind of dosage/daily counter meant to be attached to a wire cage.

But the jury is still out.

Buddy~

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

...The wheel moves freely with nothing to hold the wheel on a number. Which leads me to believe that the wheel must have been meant to be placed horizontally.

Good clue.



...unless it is connected to another gear that holds it in place.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

To be honest I am leaning to agreeing with an earlier post that it must be some kind of dosage/daily counter meant to be attached to a wire cage.
Buddy~

What would hold the wheel on the number?

 

[Goodyguy]

I believe that the wheel was designed to be advanced by using a finger to move the wheel.

I am fairly sure the wheel was meant to be advanced by hand until the stop prevents it from going past 14. The stop prevents the small number 15 from lining up with the pointer. Then the wheel must be rotated in reverse by hand until it hits the stop

At least my guess has this part right so far!

The only problem with that idea is the pointer would be in the way. It covers the sprocket points in front of the numbers preventing the teeth from coming into contact with anything. Unlike the wheel in your illustration.

Believe me thats what I wanted it to be too because it was my first guess.
But there is no way. sorry

 

[Goodyguy]

To be honest I am leaning to agreeing with an earlier post that it must be some kind of dosage/daily counter meant to be attached to a wire cage.
Buddy~

What would hold the wheel on the number?

Good question
Maybe when it was new the rivet was tighter providing more friction to hold the wheel in place.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

 

[eldonsmith]

Here are my thoughts (fwiw)

• 
  It isn't clear if it complete or not, but clips on the rear suggest it is mounted to something rather than used alone
  The overall build quality appears low, stamped and press ally with pop rivet shaft.
  There isn't any shaft or other connection, so it doesn't appear to drive or control anything thus hinting at a counter
  It only goes from 1 (not 0) to 14 (not 15) and does not rotate past the stop at 14
  The 'teeth' are pressed to give them some rigidity and look like finger controlled rather than driven mechanically
  There is evidence of wear on the backplate commensurate with lengthy use although there doesn't appear to be wear on the teeth themselves.

I suspect this is agricultural and that Internet coverage isn't reaching those who may be able to identify it. Someone suggested getting it on US TV, Is this feasible?? It may even increase it's value!

 

[lairmo]

Oh my gosh!!!!....I just spent several hours reading ALL these posts....decided to look it up for myself on the internet....googled: cage counter cycle 15 alaska ...this is what I found: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/06/metal-detectorists-m.html

sorry....LOL

 

[Goodyguy]

Oh my gosh!!!!....I just spent several hours reading ALL these posts....decided to look it up for myself on the internet....googled: cage counter cycle 15 alaska ...this is what I found: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/06/metal-detectorists-m.html

sorry....LOL

And I thought we had some wild guesses on here....:P

One thing for sure those people at Boing Boing sure have us beat in the comedy department!
Although I did read some very well thought out and insightful comments.

I notice this thing now has over 50,000 views!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I notice this thing now has over 50,000 views!

You could charge for advertising. Clients could put their logo on the wheel.

 

[Michelle]

I put this thing on my desktop so I can see it drive me nuts..................I will figure it out




Just keep the coffee coming

 

[Michelle]

Here are my thoughts (fwiw)

• 
  It isn't clear if it complete or not, but clips on the rear suggest it is mounted to something rather than used alone
  The overall build quality appears low, stamped and press ally with pop rivet shaft.
  There isn't any shaft or other connection, so it doesn't appear to drive or control anything thus hinting at a counter
  It only goes from 1 (not 0) to 14 (not 15) and does not rotate past the stop at 14
  The 'teeth' are pressed to give them some rigidity and look like finger controlled rather than driven mechanically
  There is evidence of wear on the backplate commensurate with lengthy use although there doesn't appear to be wear on the teeth themselves.

I suspect this is agricultural and that Internet coverage isn't reaching those who may be able to identify it. Someone suggested getting it on US TV, Is this feasible?? It may even increase it's value!

Could it have been Spring loaded?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Goody if you or Michelle or anybody else has time you may want to email these people with a pic.

http://www.antiquevintageappliances.com/

 

[Goodyguy]

Ok, to bring everyone up to date. I have been carrying "it" around with me in a box and have shown "it" to almost everyone I meet. I'm having a ball hearing peoples guesses. I have also taken "it" to:
Hardware stores
Agricultural stores (Feeders Supply)
Camera Shops
Pet shops
Heating and air conditioning shops
and am in the process of sending photos to various "ask the expert" forums including
"ask Mark Parker" of Western & Eastern Treasures.

So far no one knows for sure what "it" could be but almost everyone has a guess. Some are quite insightful others are completely off the wall. Sometimes I have trouble keeping a straight face while they are telling me what they think "it" could be.

At this point I am running out of ideas and would like suggestions of what expert may be able to id "it" positively and with solid proof.

Does anyone know how to or who to contact at "Antiques Road Show"?

GG~

 

[taropatch]

How about sending pictures to some of the following:

1. Antiques Roadshow
2. Smithsonian
3. History Detectives Show

...and other shows or museum groups ?