✅ 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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[intimer]

i believe if my idea of how it attaches to a rod flat or round or jointed then the measuring device would go either direction . that's why measure of temp. makes sense.

the bent up part at 15 cn be made to move around and back and forth with 1 to 15.

why not a temperature setting device for old ice boxes or very early refrigerators? in this case a finger would set the number by moving the points.

mike

Sorry I still dont understand your theory. There is no way a wire or spring or rod could attach to the stop at #15 IMO and properly turn. It would have to attach in the center rivet and it appears that nothing is broken off.

It sure looks like an old propane refrigerator control, but again the electronics would have to connect at the center rivet. Just like the control knob on your metal detector needs to connect to the center shaft of the potentiometer.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

why not a long stiff wire with curly twists at 90 degree to the stiff wire set on top of the square post thngs by the number 15.this stiff wire could be attached to an activator on a wheel that pun one direction to 15 than release and eased back to 0.
the whole devise behind a something so only the arrow is shown in a window. the stiff wire would be across the thingy device and never appear in the window.
the rotating actuator would show the reading through the window.

this was my first time at using 'paint'. i sure it's absolutely wacky but i had fun messing around. i suppose everyone says "yeah, but what is this thing counting?" but anyway, heck 9 pages and ... this is what you get.

Im sorry intimer. I reread this several times and looked at your diagram but still dont understand.

What do you think it is? a temperature control? just asking. What is an activator? what is a rotating actuator?

What is a long stiff wire with curly twists? a spring?

Maybe another diagram will help. Maybe Im a little slow. Try to make the objects to scale with each other may also help me visualize.

 

[intimer]

it's ideas not science. consider it brainstorming, please don't be so critical...often.

the dictionary is a source for words not understood. but you're right they do sound a little 'made up'... ha ha! you didn't check the dictionary did you?

don't the words show motion---go on imagine 'actu-ator'... wow, i can just see that dial slowly rotating---then reversing? that's the magic of the pen and the power of the word!

as for the attachment point 'square ('bent up' piece at # fifteen) in round hole' (simply a spring). or maybe it's just bent up for balance or to scratch something...no! i think it has the purpose of being "THE" attachment point that enables the dial to be rotated either and in both directions.

or, should i slam you and say there is no way for anything to connect "under the small space under the rivet". no, i will use your idea possibly to assist my mind in future thoughts. quit slamming me please and others! (if you don't mind me saying so!). it is embarrassing for you to point out that my stupid ideas are stupid when they actually have some value somehow to somebody, maybe only one somebody but that somebody may get something from my stupid idea (or yours) that further motivates their thought process to provide this forum with another stupid idea that might just lead to an "id-------banner!!!!!

have you ever seen a soccer team bickering on the field at each other (on the same team)? come on...we are in this together.

my thoughts and expressing them (without the fear of repercussion!) is just to show (my idea!) that there is a way to connect to the bent up piece. you have an unnatural way of 'hopping on' or 'harping on' a previous posts.

(because i feel there is a way to connect to that bent up piece!) try this one... if a flat-thin-light-weight rod had a cup that swiveled near the end at a 90 degree. and the cup, though upside down sitting over the 'bent up' piece, was made to receive the flat bent piece. (in other words the 'bent up' piece has a hat, that swivels on a rod, at 90 degrees, that goes to the source of movement for the dial!) then the rod is moved in an arc necessary to rotate the dial......

i have no problem with you. please don't think i am being harsh toward you. i am just trying to defend my right to offer ideas in any forum without being bashed. please accept this reasoning as purely defensive and let's go on hopefully finding value in others views. (i just know you are going to knit pick a word, or a sentence, or a paragraph from this post and slam me. please spare me and the rest of t net.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I'm not saying I know what it is, but I am thoroughly convinced it was intended for "Manual Operation" ... meaning that it was mounted someplace for easy access, as opposed to being a hidden, interior part such as a cogwheel. Therefore, the numbers themselves had to be "optional" ... suggesting one of two things:

1. A setting option. (However, I see no evidence where anything was ever connected or attached to it.)
2. A counting, or keeping track of something option. (Personally, I favor this option. But the question still remains : A device for counting WHAT ?

I am also convinced that the concave outer design of the wheel was intended for a finger tip, so as to spin and set it at will. (Maybe Orphan Annie's secret decoder ties in here somewhere.)

And with that said, the answer to the mystery ramains at our finger tips ... but only the hand of "The Chosen One" will likely ever figure it out!

And just for the record ... it probably won't be me!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

it's ideas not science. consider it brainstorming, please don't be so critical...often.

the dictionary is a source for words not understood. but you're right they do sound a little 'made up'... ha ha! you didn't check the dictionary did you?

don't the words show motion---go on imagine 'actu-ator'... wow, i can just see that dial slowly rotating---then reversing? that's the magic of the pen and the power of the word!

as for the attachment point 'square ('bent up' piece at # fifteen) in round hole' (simply a spring). or maybe it's just bent up for balance or to scratch something...no! i think it has the purpose of being "THE" attachment point that enables the dial to be rotated either and in both directions.

or, should i slam you and say there is no way for anything to connect "under the small space under the rivet". no, i will use your idea possibly to assist my mind in future thoughts. quit slamming me please and others! (if you don't mind me saying so!). it is embarrassing for you to point out that my stupid ideas are stupid when they actually have some value somehow to somebody, maybe only one somebody but that somebody may get something from my stupid idea (or yours) that further motivates their thought process to provide this forum with another stupid idea that might just lead to an "id-------banner!!!!!

have you ever seen a soccer team bickering on the field at each other (on the same team)? come on...we are in this together.

my thoughts and expressing them (without the fear of repercussion!) is just to show (my idea!) that there is a way to connect to the bent up piece. you have an unnatural way of 'hopping on' or 'harping on' a previous posts.

(because i feel there is a way to connect to that bent up piece!) try this one... if a flat-thin-light-weight rod had a cup that swiveled near the end at a 90 degree. and the cup, though upside down sitting over the 'bent up' piece, was made to receive the flat bent piece. (in other words the 'bent up' piece has a hat, that swivels on a rod, at 90 degrees, that goes to the source of movement for the dial!) then the rod is moved in an arc necessary to rotate the dial......

i have no problem with you. please don't think i am being harsh toward you. i am just trying to defend my right to offer ideas in any forum without being bashed. please accept this reasoning as purely defensive and let's go on hopefully finding value in others views. (i just know you are going to knit pick a word, or a sentence, or a paragraph from this post and slam me. please spare me and the rest of t net.

I cant believe you wrote all this. I am completely in shock. I highlighted Im sorry so you would realize I was being nice. I even said "I must be slow". "I" meaning 1st person in English (myself). I guess I forgot the smiley faces. 8) 8).

I never implied you were stupid and Im a bit surprised you would think of yourself that way. I was NOT slamming you, and yes I DO mind you making rude accusations against me. If you read back to reply #897, you will see that I said you may be onto something and you gave me an idea. I was using your ideas to assist my mind in future thoughts, (like I often do) and requested a better explanation and/or diagram. If I thought your ideas were stupid, I would have completely ignored you. Instead I only asked you to please explain again because I am slow.

Its amazing how someone can get the complete opposite meaning online. Thats why we have smiley faces and maybe I didnt use enough of them. Maybe you have a complex. I dunno. Do I have to defend my right to ask questions? Should I be afraid to disagree that I might hurt someones feelings?

I always thought the bent up piece was a stop but I agree with you that it may hold the spring also. I would like to ask you more questions about this actuator motor that slowly turns one way and back another, and for what purpose, but I think its better that I just ignore your idea. Consider that maybe I am slow and leave it at that. Maybe you prefer it that way.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I am also convinced that the concave outer design of the wheel was intended for a finger tip, so as to spin and set it at will.

I would like to see a pic from Goody with the finger next to the item. All we have to visualize this theory is rtde's photoshop I posted in reply #886 and it may not be to scale.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Intimer, I stand by my word that the photoshop diagram you drew would not work IMO. It would have to be much closer than you depicted in the photoshop to keep the orange rod from bending and the 2 dials need to be the same size. Thats why I asked you to make another diagram to scale. I know it was your first attempt but I think thats where you messed up.


Now I realize that you may have meant to put the two items much closer together and the same size, where it has a possibility of working. Also scrap the motor idea. Ill leave it at that. Maybe it will help others to understand. I cant be the only one confused with your photoshop LOL. Dont take it so personal if someone disagrees in the future..

 

[Goodyguy]

I am also convinced that the concave outer design of the wheel was intended for a finger tip, so as to spin and set it at will.

I would like to see a pic from Goody with the finger next to the item. All we have to visualize this theory is rtde's photoshop I posted in reply #886 and it may not be to scale.

I will get that pic for you. However in the mean time the space between the teeth is a perfect fit for a finger to turn the wheel , and when the wheel is turned by using a finger to turn it till your finger stops at the end of the opening, then the next number is lined up perfectly with the pointer.

GG~

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I am also convinced that the concave outer design of the wheel was intended for a finger tip, so as to spin and set it at will.

I would like to see a pic from Goody with the finger next to the item. All we have to visualize this theory is rtde's photoshop I posted in reply #886 and it may not be to scale.

I will get that pic for you. However in the mean time the space between the teeth is a perfect fit for a finger to turn the wheel , and when the wheel is turned by using a finger to turn it till your finger stops at the end of the opening, then the next number is lined up perfectly with the pointer.

GG~

OK thanks. I wasnt sure.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Do you remember what I said recently about learning something new every day?

Well, I just discovered that my zoom setting has a "custom" feature that allowed me to set it at 60% ... which just so happens to set the original photo (page one) to match the exact size of a quarter, (25 cent piece).

So in case it was ever in question, we now know it measures exactly 3" X 2 & 1/2"

Try it ... I think you might like it!

 

[Goodyguy]

I am also convinced that the concave outer design of the wheel was intended for a finger tip, so as to spin and set it at will.

I would like to see a pic from Goody with the finger next to the item. All we have to visualize this theory is rtde's photoshop I posted in reply #886 and it may not be to scale.

Going from 1 to 2


*note even the rivet is aluminum

GG~

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Great pics. Is there any room underneath that rivet for a spring?

I see now that it will not spin because the next tab hits the top of the finger as a stop.

Im leaning more toward finger actuated counter.

 

[Goodyguy]

Great pics. Is there any room underneath that rivet for a spring?

I see now that it will not spin because the next tab hits the top of the finger as a stop.

Im leaning more toward finger actuated counter.

The rivet only has about 1/16 of an inch of play, so doubtful
There are no indications or wear marks of any kind indicating such.




GG~

 

[intimer]

1.I cant believe you wrote all this. Shocked Roll Eyes I am completely in shock.

yes i understand you feel this way.

2.I highlighted Im sorry so you would realize I was being nice. I even said "I must be slow". "I" meaning 1st person in English (myself). I guess I forgot the smiley faces. Smiley Smiley Smiley Smiley Cool Cool.

yes i understand you say you feel this way.

3.I highlighted Im sorry so you would realize I was being nice. I even said "I must be slow". "I" meaning 1st person in English (myself). I guess I forgot the smiley faces. Smiley Smiley Smiley Smiley Cool Cool.

yes i understand you think disclaimers are sufficient apologies.

4.I was NOT slamming you, and yes I DO mind you making rude accusations against me.

yes i understand you are not with fault.

5.If you read back to reply #897, you will see that I said you may be onto something and you gave me an idea. sign13 I was using your ideas to assist my mind in future thoughts, (like I often do) and requested a better explanation and/or diagram.

yes i know you think you've covered yourself.

6.If I thought your ideas were stupid, I would have completely ignored you. Instead I only asked you to please explain again because I am slow.

yes i understand you think this way.

7.Its amazing how someone can get the complete opposite meaning online. Thats why we have smiley faces and maybe I didnt use enough of them. Maybe you have a complex. I dunno. Do I have to defend my right to ask questions? Should I be afraid to disagree that I might hurt someones feelings?

yes i understand you are apologetic at the same time being harsh and crude.

8.I always thought the bent up piece was a stop but I agree with you that it may hold the spring also. I would like to ask you more questions about this actuator motor that slowly turns one way and back another, and for what purpose, but I think its better that I just ignore your idea. Consider that maybe I am slow and leave it at that. Maybe you prefer it that way.

yes this is your choice.

 

[72cheyenne]

Folks, take your personal differences up through PM's. Really cluttering the thread.

 

[intimer]

after seeing the finger advancing pictures. i will have to give in. my whole world is in chaos now.

i also noticed the 'bent up' piece is more likely to be a stop against the pointer than an attachment point. but not completely conclusive...

please excuse my previous ramblings, but i really believed and i'm positive i have seen the sort of attachment i was trying to convey....repeatedly. i remember pulling it apart. the spring was thin wire and tightly coiled.

most of you were very nice in ignoring my ramblings. i did the same thing on a recent boat paddle post. my thinking it was a shovel went on until i was proved wrong.

so i am bailing ship and jumping on the finger advancement! hooray, no more long ramblings....! i didn't go that far, i would love to find proof of my memories.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Intimer, when you make a post about a new idea, someone is going to ask questions, and you need to realize that someone may disagree with you. And of course your new ideas are always welcome. I said I was sorry I didnt understand your photoshop/idea, but I really have nothing to apologize for. Maybe I need to modify my writing style. I think this is all an unfortunate misunderstanding that happens all the time in online forums.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

but i really believed and i'm positive i have seen the sort of attachment i was trying to convey....repeatedly. i remember pulling it apart. the spring was thin wire and tightly coiled.

For what its worth, I have seen this type of attachment you speak of. The more you pull, the tighter it gets. I just didnt understand the photoshop and your description. With a few changes to your photoshop I described, I now understand your hypothesis. Its a new idea not yet mentioned that may lead to something later down the line.

The finger pictures sure are convincing. Im jumping on the finger advancement too. I just dont understand the play in the rivet. I think this sprocket will spin freely with nothing to keep it on the number, unless the rivet was at one time tighter.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Great pics. Is there any room underneath that rivet for a spring?

The rivet only has about 1/16 of an inch of play, so doubtful
There are no indications or wear marks of any kind indicating such.

GG~

It looked like some play under the TOP rivet. Refer to the reply#901 pic.

 

[Montana Jim]

People still read this topic?