✅ 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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[Goodyguy]

As per request these photos are being re-posted to assist anyone not familiar with the mystery object.

 

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[savant365]

If anyone has an old viewmaster take it apart and see if one of these things is in there.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Its baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!

 

[Goodyguy]

If anyone has an old viewmaster take it apart and see if one of these things is in there.

Been there done that. Actually the numbers are located on the viewing discs not on the mechanism itself. Good thought though.

 

[ballbuster]

Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water.........

 

[intimer]

it's the part to an old erector set nobody found any use for? thoguh, not based on any truth!

the type of metal makes it look so familiar.

mike

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

One poster used the word "sprocket" in reguards to a piece of machinery, however dismisses the idea as there are/is no way to attach other gearing. I think he may have hit the nail on the head only this may be just an "idler" sprocket. I suggest that you measure the distance accurately from the top of one tooth to the next, see if that measurement match any standard chain, or possibly the chain on something such as a grandfather clock.
A definitely possibility.
Rick (Nova Scotia)
Logically , because the teeth are shaped exactly like a sprocket and yet there is no place or method of attachment a of a gear to the back side, it is very likely an idler sprocket,(addmittedly that would not explain the reason to number each tooth, however the old timers did do unessary things, such as that.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

One poster used the word "sprocket" in reguards to a piece of machinery, however dismisses the idea as there are/is no way to attach other gearing. I think he may have hit the nail on the head only this may be just an "idler" sprocket. I suggest that you measure the distance accurately from the top of one tooth to the next, see if that measurement match any standard chain, or possibly the chain on something such as a grandfather clock.
A definitely possibility.
Rick (Nova Scotia)
Logically , because the teeth are shaped exactly like a sprocket and yet there is no place or method of attachment a of a gear to the back side, it is very likely an idler sprocket,(addmittedly that would not explain the reason to number each tooth, however the old timers did do unessary things, such as that.

Good observation. I agree it is not a standard gear per say but could attach to a chain or a cheap plastic paddlewheel type of "gear" that I have seen on old fridges. Could also attach to film perforations. The purpose of the teeth may also be only to facilitate turning with a finger. Dont forget it also has a stop and can only make one revolution.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

" Could also attach to film perforations. The purpose of the teeth may also be only to facilitate turning with a finger. "
After reconsidderation it no doubt belongs to a clock, as you pointed out it only goes around once. I don't however believe the trrth are to facilitate your fingers as it seems to connect to anything. That is why I strongly believe it is a "idler gear" for what exact mechanism I di not know.

PS 30 years in a machine chop, I have seen a lot of "gear". The refridgerator that someone suggested is certainly plausable.

Rick

 

[east tx digger]

I think it is a DOOHICKEY, MIGHT BE A THINGYMABOB, BUT DEFINATELY NOT A WHATCHAMACALLIT.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

" Could also attach to film perforations. The purpose of the teeth may also be only to facilitate turning with a finger. "
After reconsidderation it no doubt belongs to a clock, as you pointed out it only goes around once. I don't however believe the trrth are to facilitate your fingers as it seems to connect to anything. That is why I strongly believe it is a "idler gear" for what exact mechanism I di not know.

PS 30 years in a machine chop, I have seen a lot of "gear". The refridgerator that someone suggested is certainly plausable.

Rick

You may have solved the mystery of how it connects to something. (by chain) It does appear to be a sprocket and not a gear and a 15 tooth sprocket is common. Look closely there does appear to be some wear marks but this unkown is very lightweight and flimsy.

What part of a clock uses a chain that doesnt revolve more than one revolution?

 

[intimer]

how the dial is activated?
i think in this picture it is oriented correctly to read it at the pointer to the left 9 o'clock. picture 1.
directly across at 3 o'clock the teeth engage whatever makes this dial move or set. to engage, teeth on another cog would be turned up. the height of the piece of metal turned down under where the two mesh, at 3 o'clock, allows for this meshing? picture 2.
i believe a dial to the right, engaging this dial, would be turned to the right in circular fashion (knob) to make the numbers of this dial turn correctly.

how it mounts to what?
i'm guessing the two straight pieces on the back next to the pointer, at 7 & 11 o'clock, help it sit on a flat attachment point. the pointer and under it would be on one side of where it attaches and the two straight pieces on the other side. on the other side at 1 & 5 o'clock the two curved pieces could be fastening a round gauge wire securing the entire mechanism against the attachment point along left side. may be in tension or securely.

how is this dial attached to what it is set to do?
the turned up piece at 15 is squared. a tightly wrapped coil of wire on an arm reaching across to the right-say 4 o'clock with 360 swivel, or 2 in the midst, would get the arm up over the center of the dial and out of the way where the dial is engaged for setting selection. thus activating whatever purpose the dial has in circular movement.

what dial is set to max. then reverses?
a toaster-things with timers. i have searched toasters without any supporting evidence
this thing is quit big and whatever engages it to set is equally as big.
the metal reminds me of late 40's to late 50's maybe early 60's.

none of this is correct until supported.

i doubted this 'dial thing' would get the best of me while reading through the post. well, it appears to have set my fingers in motion. hope i haven't rambled on too much.

be gentle if you disagree. just thinking i might cog, i mean, jog another's idea. that's what it is all about? right?

mike

 

[intimer]

talk about being a newbie!
1.looks like i didn't get picture 2 on right. so here it is among the clutter.

2.it's amazing how much this post has been cast around in so many great minds. i read and read comments on this post thinking there was only one page. geez if i'd only known-what i wrote is likly a repeat. but you can't count it because i missed pages 1,2,3,4,5,6, & 7. now i'll have to go back and read them. talk about being out of date!

is there a newbie face to select from or is DUH !!! sufficient?

mike

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

talk about being a newbie!
1.looks like i didn't get picture 2 on right. so here it is among the clutter.

If you make a mistake with the wrong pic you can click on modify to change it.


Goodyguy, what caused these marks? Even though it appears to be a sprocket, I dont see how a chain could fit under this tab. Im leaning toward a gas refrigerator control, but I dont know how it would connect.

 

[Goodyguy]

talk about being a newbie!
1.looks like i didn't get picture 2 on right. so here it is among the clutter.

If you make a mistake with the wrong pic you can click on modify to change it.


Goodyguy, what caused these marks? Even though it appears to be a sprocket, I dont see how a chain could fit under this tab. Im leaning toward a gas refrigerator control, but I dont know how it would connect.

Those marks were caused from the points of the wheel dragging against the backing during manually rotating the wheel. The wheel is a little wobbly and there is very little clearance between it and the backing plate so the teeth rub it when rotated.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Goodyguy, what caused these marks? Even though it appears to be a sprocket, I dont see how a chain could fit under this tab. Im leaning toward a gas refrigerator control, but I dont know how it would connect.

Those marks were caused from the points of the wheel dragging against the backing during manually rotating the wheel. The wheel is a little wobbly and there is very little clearance between it and the backing plate so the teeth rub it when rotated.

If its that wobbly and close to the bottom surface, I dont see how it would connect to another gear. I wonder if those marks were made while the item in question was in use or happened later? This thing is a real mystery. I dont see how it could control anything.

Thinking on the counter theory, does it have stops at each number or does it spin kinda freely? If it spins, I cant see it much use as a counter, it wouldnt stay on the number. What a cheap piece of crap.

 

[Michelle]

Thats why I think it must have been spring loaded...making the numbers go back after each turn

 

[Goodyguy]

Goodyguy, what caused these marks? Even though it appears to be a sprocket, I dont see how a chain could fit under this tab. Im leaning toward a gas refrigerator control, but I dont know how it would connect.

Those marks were caused from the points of the wheel dragging against the backing during manually rotating the wheel. The wheel is a little wobbly and there is very little clearance between it and the backing plate so the teeth rub it when rotated.

If its that wobbly and close to the bottom surface, I dont see how it would connect to another gear. I wonder if those marks were made while the item in question was in use or happened later? This thing is a real mystery. I dont see how it could control anything.

Thinking on the counter theory, does it have stops at each number or does it spin kinda freely? If it spins, I cant see it much use as a counter, it wouldnt stay on the number. What a cheap piece of crap.

You are absolutely right about the quality.
It turns with very little friction (just from the play at the rivet that holds the wheel on) and there are no detents to help stop the wheel exactly on a number either.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

To end this talk about a cold control, do you see any way that that rivet could have attached to or broken off from a shaft?

If it cannot attach to a shaft and is too flimsy and close to the surface to connect to another gear or chain then it cannot be from a fridge. If it wont stay on the number, I dont think it could be a counter. What is it?

Maybe it stayed on the number when the rivet was tighter.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thats why I think it must have been spring loaded...making the numbers go back after each turn

I dont see how a spring could attach or how that would help stay on the number, Michelle. What would be the purpose of making the numbers go back after each turn? Are you thinking like an old dial telephone?