UNUSUAL MYSTERY TOOL

[mojjax]

This tool has been hanging on the wall , behind the counter at the local hardware store for several years - so far no one has been able to give it a positive ID . I asked them if I could take a few pictures of it , I told them I "knew some people " that like to ID stuff . so here it is -

It's about 16'' long . the brass part is kind of thick with no sharp edges .

 

[DCMatt]

Could it possibly be a tool to measure something? Maybe a size gauge for seafood?

sent from a potato...

Well it is certainly measuring my sanity...

DCMatt

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

there are plenty of old tools made of brass....that hold a bit

What is a bit? A drill bit? I dont understand. I believe what I said was that brass cannot hold a sharp edge. I also do not see how it can hold a steel blade like that of a plane or spokeshave because there are no threaded holes. Also no throat.

Again I hope I am not coming off as a jerk rehashing this over and over here but this item cannot be a spokeshave or cooper shave or any kind of plane without a blade or a way to attach and adjust. Show me where is a threaded hole to attach a blade or iron or a way to attach your drill bit?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont see it. Of course there are brass spokeshaves and parts could be missing but I have never seen a frame casting that looked like this item and I challenge unclemac or anybody else that thinks this can hold a blade iron to find a supporting picture.

If you could remove the iron from the spokeshave pictured (mislabeled as a coopers shave) you would find it does NOT match.

 

[Hot zone]

DC Matt got it right! Solved in my opinion!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

DC Matt got it right! Solved in my opinion!

Oh jeez. No way. Im sorry Hotzone. I guess you havent bothered to read anything at all that I posted lol. If you removed the thumbscrew, lever cap and blade from that spokeshave, you will find a brass frame that DOES NOT MATCH!!!! Or all you have to do is turn it over on the throat side. THERE IS NO THROAT ON MOJJAXs MYSTERY ITEM!

Quote by mojjax. (Hes the OP guy that posted the tool)

I don't think it's a spoke shave or a draw knife - there's no place to attach a blade to it . the brass part has all rounded edges , doesn't look like it was ever sharpened , I don't think brass can hold a sharp edge . all the wood working tools I've seen have steel blades .

What has happened to TN since I left? I hope its not all gone downhill like this thread.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looks real close to #54 Stanley in the book. It may be missing the clamp that held the cutter.

The pic of the cast iron Stanley #54 appears to be a closer match than that of the brass spokeshave originally posted by Matt and repeated by others but I still dont think so. There should be breakdown pics available online showing the cast iron frame and parts of this shave if you wish to pursue this..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

OK I took the time to find a pic of the Stanley #54 spokeshave. Here are pics front and back and you can see the backside has a THROAT. Vintage Tools - STANLEY NO. 54 SPOKE SHAVE - 561BE

So please lets stop this talk about spokeshaves unless you can find a casting minus a throat.. Im sorry but anyone that still thinks this is a spokeshave doesnt know what they are talkin about. Thats my 2 cents.

 

[unclemac]

i sent the pix off to 3 vintage tool sites...we shall see what we shall see....

 

[cw0909]

i sent the pix off to 3 vintage tool sites...we shall see what we shall see....

nice, did you contact this site too,i looked at the listed auctions here, and if the mystery tool is a wood working
tool,or part of a wood working tool, you would think one would be in those tool auctions, so im starting to think
it has nothing to do with wood working

Great Planes Trading Company - St. Louis Missouri

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

i sent the pix off to 3 vintage tool sites...we shall see what we shall see....

its worth another shot. Make sure you request a photo, link or documentation. I will never put anybody down for trying just dont keep beating a dead horse for over a year!. All the planes pictured so far do not match.

If its a woodworking tool with parts missing, we sure havent found it yet.

 

[dieselram94]

Ok, a little update here...and I mean little. The tool is no longer at the hardware store...It was taken back home!

 

[scubadude18]

 

[Tnmountains]

I have many spokeshaves and draw knifes. None resemble this item.

 

[lookindown]

This was solved by DCMatt the same day it was posted, over a year ago...another very close example was posted today...if someone doesn't believe it, let em not believe it but this is solved and has been since day one.

 

[RustyGold]

Cable end twister!

 

[Tnmountains]

Have you ever seen or used a spokeshave? The only thing similar are the wood handles.Where do the caps, thumbscrew cutter adjusting nut, washer and blades go again ?

 

[Tnmountains]

Cable end twister!

That is better than a spokeshave.

 

[ARC]

Here's my off the wall opinion... it is a kettle handle... for removing a kettle from fire.

 

[lookindown]

Have you ever seen or used a spokeshave? The only thing similar are the wood handles.Where do the caps, thumbscrew cutter adjusting nut, washer and blades go again ?

Same place they go on all spokeshaves...its just the frame and its missing parts...the blades dont attach exactly the same on all spokeshaves.

 

[NJ Marty]

Ask the curator of this museum what it might be. He will get back to you within 48 hours. I have asked him a few questions and he always responds and the museum is in Maine, he should know and this will hopefully be solved. Go to the first link after "contact us" The Davistown Museum