Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

What is it? Set 440

28 views
Skip to first unread message

Rob H.

unread,
May 10, 2012, 4:13:17 AM5/10/12
to
I know the answer for just one of the items this week, hopefully we'll get
at least a couple of them figured out:

http://55tools.blogspot.com/


Rob

Alexander Thesoso

unread,
May 10, 2012, 6:10:44 AM5/10/12
to
2552 I assume lots of people will recognize the spark-coil (Model T
vintage) in the base in the second picture. It produces a high voltage.
This leads me to fantasies about this being some form of decorative
light fixture, missing a gas-discharge globe/lamp on top.

Kenefick

unread,
May 10, 2012, 6:34:47 AM5/10/12
to
2551: homemade dust pan?
2552:
2553: upholstery tacks?
2554: fish hook remover?
2555: hole maker of some sort?
2556:

On 5/10/2012 4:13 AM, Rob H. wrote:

Tim Shoppa

unread,
May 10, 2012, 6:49:25 AM5/10/12
to
I know #2555 because my father collected them: it's most of an apple
peeler. I can't figure out where the rest (the auto-swiveling knife
doodad) bolts on though.

Tim.

Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

unread,
May 10, 2012, 7:18:39 AM5/10/12
to
Alexander Thesoso <alexande...@hotmail.com> fired this volley in
news:jog474$pbc$1...@dont-email.me:

> 2552 I assume lots of people will recognize the spark-coil (Model T
>

Actually, that's a "Fordson" coil. The original model T had a magneto
for normal running, but used the Fordson continuous spark coil for
starting up or slow idling.

But that aside, I think this is a ceremonial torch that can be lit
remotely and on cue. The small vessel on top is just about the right
size for some flammable oil and a wick. The spark coil would be used to
generate the ignition spark. There's even a ceramic spark gap visible on
top.

The fact that it was all soldered up from copper makes one think it might
have been part of a trade union fraternal group's induction ceremonies --
like "Plumbers and fitters Union #305 social club."

In fact, I remember that the Lion's Club of America has an induction
ceremony where several "lights" are illuminated in succession as a
liturgy is read.

LLoyd


Stormin Mormon

unread,
May 10, 2012, 7:54:36 AM5/10/12
to
2551, looks like the tray to put under the down spout / gutters. Reduces
erosion.
2552. I went through a couple ideas, but none of them made much sense.
2553, my guess is it's some kind of spike, or nail. Used for what, I'm not
sure.
2554, maybe part of the brakes of a big truck.
2555, some kind of table top device. Maybe egg beater, for bowls of eggs.
2556, no clue.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote in message
news:jofta...@news6.newsguy.com...

Sonny

unread,
May 10, 2012, 7:56:50 AM5/10/12
to
2553 - Is a spike or finger of a cotton picking machine. It's the
mechanical finger, of the machine/tractor, that picks the cotton off
the cotton plant. There are lots of them inside the cotton picking
machine.

dan pines

unread,
May 10, 2012, 8:28:50 AM5/10/12
to
2553 a spike used by land surveyors to place their sighting equipment
on. they never take it out after use and I have them many times sunk
into pavements and roads.
2555 a screwdriver for production line, incredibly quick compared to
any other type of hand held driver. the height is pre-set using the
handwheel on top to fit the product + screw/bolt. A short move down of
the main handle generates enough revolutions of the chuck and bit
(missing from photo). The one I have seen in use also had a sort of
depth stop to avoid over-tightening.

J Burns

unread,
May 10, 2012, 9:00:14 AM5/10/12
to
2551 could be a sled to drag the foot of a heavy item on a wooden floor
or outdoors. I could use 4 to drag a wood stove across my lawn. I'd
lever it up to put one under each foot, then adjust four chains to
attach them to a tow bar.

2556 might hold repellent and a wick, to keep insects or woodpeckers
away, for example.

Limp Arbor

unread,
May 10, 2012, 9:07:15 AM5/10/12
to
2556: Ground transponder for the unmarked black helicopters that
disperse radio waves to prevent citizens from realizing they are pawns
of the government.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Get free backup service using Drop Box
Access your files from your smartphone or tablet
Bonus space provided using this link: http://db.tt/RIONkfbZ

Dave__67

unread,
May 10, 2012, 10:27:54 AM5/10/12
to
On May 10, 4:13 am, "Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
2556- contains some type of documentation or information for the
equipment up on the pole?

Ralph

unread,
May 10, 2012, 11:32:31 AM5/10/12
to
2553 Is a spindle from a cotton picking machine. There are rows of them
that spin and pull the cotton off the plant.

Northe

unread,
May 10, 2012, 12:03:10 PM5/10/12
to
2555 -- old "drill press," I believe it is actually what would have
been called a _boring machine_.

Northe

e

unread,
May 10, 2012, 1:19:26 PM5/10/12
to
2555: drill press/boring machine from Goodell:
http://oldtoolheaven.com/related/goodell-pratt-history.htm
these show up fairly often on the assorted sales/auction sites and
there is a fine variety of discussions over the years on the OldTools
list re: the care and feeding



On May 10, 4:13 am, "Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:

tiredofspam

unread,
May 10, 2012, 1:23:59 PM5/10/12
to
2551 A foundry shovel. A wooden handle can be inserted behind the
shovel into the loop and pick up the hot molten material or hot coals.

2555 A small hand cranked drill press, or press. The wheel at the top
pushes the shaft down, which is rotated by the crank.

2556 A bat house.. for attracting bats to keep the bug population in check.

Rob H.

unread,
May 10, 2012, 4:54:28 PM5/10/12
to

> 2555 - Drill Press

I think this is probably correct, I found a Goodell Brothers patent for a
hand drill that looks similar.

> 2556 - Waterproof storage for breaker reset tool or
> documents showing line routing / distribution.

There are at least a dozen of these canisters on telephone poles within 2
miles of my house, I like the theory that there are documents inside of them
since most linemen bring their own tools.

Rob H.

unread,
May 10, 2012, 4:56:14 PM5/10/12
to

"Alexander Thesoso" <alexande...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:jog474$pbc$1...@dont-email.me...
> 2552 I assume lots of people will recognize the spark-coil (Model T
> vintage) in the base in the second picture. It produces a high voltage.
> This leads me to fantasies about this being some form of decorative light
> fixture, missing a gas-discharge globe/lamp on top.


I would bet that this is correct, thanks.

Rob H.

unread,
May 10, 2012, 5:05:01 PM5/10/12
to
Sounds like a good use for it, I'll pass this on to the owner. Another good
diatribe Lloyd, you're on a roll!

My newsreader is only showing seven replies to my post today, but Google
groups has 14 replies to it. Usually they are pretty much in sync so I'm
not sure if it's just my news server or if it's wider spread.

Rob

Rob H.

unread,
May 10, 2012, 5:10:37 PM5/10/12
to
>2553 - Is a spike or finger of a cotton picking machine. It's the
>mechanical finger, of the machine/tractor, that picks the cotton off the
>cotton plant. There are lots of them inside the cotton picking machine.

Based on the number of people who say this spike is part of a cotton picker,
I would say it's likely to be correct though I couldn't find one on the web
to prove it.

Scott Lurndal

unread,
May 10, 2012, 5:33:10 PM5/10/12
to
"Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> writes:
>
>> 2555 - Drill Press
>
>I think this is probably correct, I found a Goodell Brothers patent for a
>hand drill that looks similar.

It appears to be missing the chuck, however.

scott

Sonny

unread,
May 10, 2012, 5:58:32 PM5/10/12
to
I'll take a pic of the fingers next time I'm out on the farm.

Sonny

unread,
May 10, 2012, 6:08:57 PM5/10/12
to
On May 10, 3:54 pm, "Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
> > 2555 - Drill Press
>
> I think this is probably correct, I found a Goodell Brothers patent for a
> hand drill that looks similar.

2555 - I was going to guess, earlier, it also looks very similar to a
hand grommet or snap press use in upholstery. The flat round plate
(base?) at the bottom is also similar to those presses and to a hand
operated button making machine. Handy Button Machine Company still
makes the button and grommet/snap presses, but none of them are
geared, as your pic shows. I have one each of a Handy button and
grommet/snap press/machine, if you would need to compare pics, I can
take a few.

Sonny

unread,
May 10, 2012, 6:18:30 PM5/10/12
to

Sonny

unread,
May 10, 2012, 6:21:53 PM5/10/12
to
On May 10, 7:28 am, dan pines <pines....@gmail.com> wrote:
> On May 10, 11:13 am, "Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
>
> > I know the answer for just one of the items this week, hopefully we'll get
> > at least a couple of them figured out:
>
> >http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> > Rob
>
> 2553  a spike used by land surveyors to place their sighting equipment
> on. they never take it out after use and I have them many times sunk
> into pavements and roads.


And, apparently, they are also used as survey markers:
http://cottonspikes.wordpress.com/

Steve W.

unread,
May 10, 2012, 9:38:17 PM5/10/12
to
Usually they are either filters or card drops for connection to the main
cable in locations where the cables are not underground.

--
Steve W.

Edward Erbeck

unread,
May 10, 2012, 9:45:19 PM5/10/12
to
On 5/10/12 2:10 PM, in article johar...@news6.newsguy.com, "Rob H."
Rob, Google Cotton Gin Spike and you'll have all the conformation you'll
ever need ;-)

Crazy Ed

DoN. Nichols

unread,
May 11, 2012, 12:00:41 AM5/11/12
to
On 2012-05-10, Rob H. <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
> I know the answer for just one of the items this week, hopefully we'll get
> at least a couple of them figured out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/

Posting from rec.crafts.metalworking as always.

2551) At a guess -- a scoop for coal which can be attached to or
detached from a handle (which is swapped among scoops). Likely
for either a railroad engine, or perhaps for a home furnace.

2552) Hmm ... what is in the base (I think) looks like an old Fordson
tractor ignition coil. At a guess, I would say that there
should be mounting at the top for neon tubes -- perhaps for
outdoor advertising lighting -- powered by an automotive
batttery. I can't really see much about those fittings or
terminals at about 10:00 O'Clock as shown in the third and forth
views.

2553) Perhaps designed to be driven into a wooden object to allow it
to be rotated (perhaps for advertising purposes).

Or perhaps it was a left-over bevel gear (looks rather beat up,
but the image is rather unsharp so it is difficult to tell)
which someone ground to a point as a spike to drive into wood
without actually needing the bevel gear teeth.

2554) Perhaps part of the mechanism of a reclining chair or other
furniture?

2555) Looks like another variant of a Cole brothers drill. Clamps
on a workbench top. Drill chuck threads on the bottom of the
central shaft. The handwheel at the top applies downward force
to the drill bit, while the long crank turns the chuck and bit.
Good for drilling through tough steel without power tools.

<http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id70.html>

It looks like a No. 8 or a No 9 Bench drill, found on catalog
pages 204 and 205 (both show up as page 96 in the PDF of the
catalog.

O.K. Probably the No. 9, based on the overall length vs the
height above the bench specified in the catalog (18" for the No.
9 and 13" for the No 8.

2556) Hmm ... on a power pole, but no wiring going to it. All I see
is what looks like a captive chain to keep from losing the lid.

At a guess -- it is used to store documentation about what the
wiring at that pole feeds.

Or -- perhaps a recorder to detect and record corona from the
high voltage nearby.

Well ... those are my guesses. Now to post and see what others
have suggested.

Enjoy,
DoN.

--
Remove oil spill source from e-mail
Email: <BPdnic...@d-and-d.com> | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

mbuck

unread,
May 11, 2012, 3:07:29 AM5/11/12
to
On Friday, May 11, 2012 6:21:53 AM UTC+8, Sonny wrote:
> On May 10, 7:28 am, dan pines
Better: http://www.baselineequipment.com/home/bec/page_260

Its ironic...saw one of these a week ago in the sidewalk and remembered that I had always wanted to ask someone what they were, and thought about posting it here just a few days ago. Nice to see serendipity at work.

Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

unread,
May 11, 2012, 7:34:24 AM5/11/12
to

> http://55tools.blogspot.com/

Y'know, things happen in syncronicity.

Just yesterday, I was in the local privately-owned auto parts store.
There, loose on the counter with other "things to touch" was a virgin
Fordson coil with "$3.95" penciled on the bottom of the case.

I asked the owner Joe about it, and he said, "I bought that when it was
new". Well... that's not as exotic a statement as it might sound; they
made Fordson coils or replacements for them into at least the early 1960s.
I think I remember seeing them in some mail-order catalogs up through the
late 1970s.

Lloyd


Rob H.

unread,
May 11, 2012, 5:18:46 PM5/11/12
to

"Edward Erbeck" <E...@CrazyEdOptical.com> wrote in message
news:CBD1BD3F.1C3722%E...@CrazyEdOptical.com...
Thanks, I found some good information, also thanks to Sonny who posted some
good links but the posts didn't make it to my news reader though I did see
them in Google groups.

Rob H.

unread,
May 11, 2012, 5:26:23 PM5/11/12
to

>> There are at least a dozen of these canisters on telephone poles within 2
>> miles of my house, I like the theory that there are documents inside of
>> them since most linemen bring their own tools.
>>
>
> Usually they are either filters or card drops for connection to the main
> cable in locations where the cables are not underground.
>
> --
> Steve W.


Thanks, sounds like a good answer though I looked at the Hubbell Power web
site and didn't find any filters or canisters, do you know if they go by
other names or where I can find the filters or card drops online?

-----

Still not sure about 2554 but I think the rest of them have been identified,
thanks again to everyone who helped answer them.

http://55tools.blogspot.com/2012/05/set-440.html#answers


Rob

DoN. Nichols

unread,
May 11, 2012, 8:36:15 PM5/11/12
to
On 2012-05-11, Rob H. <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
>
>>> There are at least a dozen of these canisters on telephone poles within 2
>>> miles of my house, I like the theory that there are documents inside of
>>> them since most linemen bring their own tools.
>>>
>>
>> Usually they are either filters or card drops for connection to the main
>> cable in locations where the cables are not underground.

[ ... ]

> Thanks, sounds like a good answer though I looked at the Hubbell Power web
> site and didn't find any filters or canisters, do you know if they go by
> other names or where I can find the filters or card drops online?

I think not filters in this one, because there is no cable
visible entering it. Documentation as to what pair connects to where,
if that is a "card drop" -- that I could accept -- documentation on the
local wiring.

Rob H.

unread,
May 12, 2012, 6:27:47 AM5/12/12
to

"DoN. Nichols" <BPdnic...@d-and-d.com> wrote in message
news:slrnjqrc20.4n...@Katana.d-and-d.com...
> On 2012-05-11, Rob H. <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> There are at least a dozen of these canisters on telephone poles within
>>>> 2
>>>> miles of my house, I like the theory that there are documents inside of
>>>> them since most linemen bring their own tools.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Usually they are either filters or card drops for connection to the main
>>> cable in locations where the cables are not underground.
>
> [ ... ]
>
>> Thanks, sounds like a good answer though I looked at the Hubbell Power
>> web
>> site and didn't find any filters or canisters, do you know if they go by
>> other names or where I can find the filters or card drops online?
>
> I think not filters in this one, because there is no cable
> visible entering it. Documentation as to what pair connects to where,
> if that is a "card drop" -- that I could accept -- documentation on the
> local wiring.


Good point, I'm going to try to find some typical documentation that they
would contain and will post it when I do.

Stormin Mormon

unread,
May 12, 2012, 10:30:16 AM5/12/12
to
Know someone with a ladder? Go up and look.
Make copies, and put the papers back later.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote in message
news:joldu...@news6.newsguy.com...

Rob H.

unread,
May 12, 2012, 10:56:59 AM5/12/12
to

"Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61***spam...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%turr.2$VG...@news.usenetserver.com...
> Know someone with a ladder? Go up and look.
> Make copies, and put the papers back later.
>
> Christopher A. Young


I'll probably end up doing that but I would prefer to do it on a street with
not much traffic and most of the ones that I've seen are on busy roads.

Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

unread,
May 12, 2012, 11:10:09 AM5/12/12
to
"Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> fired this volley in
news:joltm...@news6.newsguy.com:

> I'll probably end up doing that but I would prefer to do it on a
> street with not much traffic and most of the ones that I've seen are
> on busy roads.

It's trespassing, and not looked upon lightly because of the potential for
theft of wiring/devices and sabotage. When you see a power company lineman
at work somewhere, just ASK him.

Lloyd

Stormin Mormon

unread,
May 12, 2012, 2:02:39 PM5/12/12
to
Panel van. Yellow safety vest. Yellow bump cap. Clip board. Couple of stolen
road cones. No one will know. Urban camoflauge. Middle of the day. You'd be
amazed some of the things I've done, and no one seems to notice or care.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote in message
news:joltm...@news6.newsguy.com...

> Know someone with a ladder? Go up and look.
> Make copies, and put the papers back later.
>


DoN. Nichols

unread,
May 14, 2012, 7:38:47 PM5/14/12
to
On 2012-05-10, Tim Shoppa <sho...@trailing-edge.com> wrote:
> On May 10, 4:13 am, "Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
>> I know the answer for just one of the items this week, hopefully we'll get
>> at least a couple of them figured out:
>>
>> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>>
>> Rob
>
> I know #2555 because my father collected them: it's most of an apple
> peeler. I can't figure out where the rest (the auto-swiveling knife
> doodad) bolts on though.

You can't figure out where it bolts on because this is *not* an
apple peeler. Those tended to have a horizontal shaft, not the vertical
shown here (based on the clamp which mounts it to the table). I (and
others) identified it as a hand cranked drill press, with a force feed
from the knob at the top. The drill chuck screws onto the bottom end of
the shank shown, which you can see is threaded. There were accessories
for this which would replace the flat plate with a V-block (for cross
drilling round steel rods) and a vise for holding smaller workpieces.

I found (and posted) the catalog from the maker which shows the
device in its entirity.

DoN. Nichols

unread,
May 14, 2012, 7:56:12 PM5/14/12
to
On 2012-05-10, Northe <nkos...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 2555 -- old "drill press," I believe it is actually what would have
> been called a _boring machine_.

Based on the catalog (Goodell-Pratt No. 16) calls this one a

"No. 9 Bench Drill"

It can be found on catalog page 204, which is shown as page 96 in the
PDF download of the catalog, because it is scanned two pages per pdf
page. The catalog appears to date from 1926. The choice between the
No. 8 on the facing page and the No. 9 is based on the size listed above
the puzzle photo relative to the height above the workbench shown in the
catalog.

FWIW -- when new, it sold for $12.70 with the round table, and
for $16.00 with the vise added.

Tim Shoppa

unread,
May 15, 2012, 7:18:58 PM5/15/12
to
On May 14, 7:38 pm, "DoN. Nichols" <BPdnichol...@d-and-d.com> wrote:
> On 2012-05-10, TimShoppa<sho...@trailing-edge.com> wrote:
>
> > On May 10, 4:13 am, "Rob H." <rhv...@gmailnospam.com> wrote:
> >> I know the answer for just one of the items this week, hopefully we'll get
> >> at least a couple of them figured out:
>
> >>http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> >> Rob
>
> > I know #2555 because my father collected them: it's most of an apple
> > peeler. I can't figure out where the rest (the auto-swiveling knife
> > doodad) bolts on though.
>
>         You can't figure out where it bolts on because this is *not* an
> apple peeler.  Those tended to have a horizontal shaft, not the vertical
> shown here (based on the clamp which mounts it to the table).  I (and
> others) identified it as a hand cranked drill press, with a force feed
> from the knob at the top.  The drill chuck screws onto the bottom end of
> the shank shown, which you can see is threaded.  There were accessories
> for this which would replace the flat plate with a V-block (for cross
> drilling round steel rods) and a vise for holding smaller workpieces.
>
>         I found (and posted) the catalog from the maker which shows the
> device in its entirity.

Strangely enough, the apple peelers my dad has were in fact made by
the same company that made the drill press you identified, Goodell-
Pratt.

Perhaps should go in "rec.crafts.fruitworking" instead of
metalworking :-)

I remember when Harbor Freight just a few years ago was selling a
variant of their jigsaw, for butcher shop use, and I made some crack
about rec.crafts.meatworking :-)

Tim.

mbuck

unread,
May 16, 2012, 4:11:47 AM5/16/12
to
Ebay has some Goodell-Pratt apple peelers listed. Any of these the model you remember? They all seem to rotate the apple horizontally..
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=1898%20Antique%20Vintage%20Goodell%20Hand%20Crank%20Apple%20Peeler&_itemId=270145994131

Stormin Mormon

unread,
May 16, 2012, 8:10:09 AM5/16/12
to
I thought HF had a crank apple peeler.

Their web site delivered zero items for
apple, or for peeler.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Tim Shoppa" <tsh...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:39952783-4c0b-4606...@t35g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...

mbuck

unread,
May 16, 2012, 9:54:28 AM5/16/12
to

Michael A. Terrell

unread,
May 16, 2012, 1:47:47 PM5/16/12
to

Stormin Mormon wrote:
>
> I thought HF had a crank apple peeler.
>
> Their web site delivered zero items for
> apple, or for peeler.


Not enough cranks bought them.


--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense.

Spehro Pefhany

unread,
May 16, 2012, 2:46:18 PM5/16/12
to
On Wed, 16 May 2012 08:10:09 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
<cayoung61***spam...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I thought HF had a crank apple peeler.

http://images.harborfreight.com/manuals/98000-98999/98412.pdf
http://images.harborfreight.com/manuals/96000-96999/96153.pdf

But I think they're both gone.

>Their web site delivered zero items for
>apple, or for peeler.

Not even brass poles?

Stormin Mormon

unread,
May 16, 2012, 5:45:22 PM5/16/12
to
Not enough a peel?

Golly, you're about as good with the word play as
anyone I've had the chance to meet. Well done!

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Michael A. Terrell" <mike.t...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:fqydndkEBq7DdS7S...@earthlink.com...

Joe keane

unread,
May 16, 2012, 8:24:07 PM5/16/12
to
In article <slrnjqp3lb.ls...@Katana.d-and-d.com>,
DoN. Nichols <BPdnic...@d-and-d.com> wrote:
>2553) Perhaps designed to be driven into a wooden object to allow it
> to be rotated (perhaps for advertising purposes).

I am with you. It's a piece of metal designed to bind a piece of wood
to a different piece of metal. Best guess is 'lathe'.

Michael A. Terrell

unread,
May 18, 2012, 4:58:31 PM5/18/12
to

Stormin Mormon wrote:
>
> Not enough a peel?
>
> Golly, you're about as good with the word play as
> anyone I've had the chance to meet. Well done!


I've had almost six decades of practice. :)

Michael A. Terrell

unread,
May 18, 2012, 4:59:50 PM5/18/12
to
For meatalworking, Polish strippers? ;-)
0 new messages