Help us ID this tool

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by papawswrench

I don't think it can be a thread chaser because the toothed cutter blade doesn't line up perpendicular to whatever you clamp in it, nor is it anywhere near the angle it would need to be to chase pipe threads, and how would you turn the tool if the pipe were clamped in it?
I appreciate the guesses, even the wild ones!

well the part that you're thinking off as a clamp has no serrations indicating to me that it is just being used as a centering devise and it in fact should be loose to allow centering alignment and rotation/ and the bolt originally holding the cutting die would hane been a shouldered bolt to allow the die to self align with the pipe threads then having the adjusting screw backed off it would self tension the cutter against the pipewith the handle stightly tilted upward rotate around pipe clean and deburr the threads// if youve got pipe laying around see if the cutter matches the pipe thread i'll bet it does

[papawswrench]

Here are some pics with a bolt in it, one with the cutter aligned parallel, one with the cutter pushed up to the bolt, another with an air fitting to show that it doesn't line up with pipe threads, and one with a standard bolt clamped in. In no case do the cutter blade and the threads line up.
Edit- the cutter blade IS adjustable

[Caveman49]

Whoa! That's quite a mechanism, kool!

Check this video out if I can get it to work... http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/e...rent=retro.flv

[papawswrench]

That's quite a mechanism

Yes, it is, but what does it do?

And the video didn't work for me.

[papawswrench]

OK, I removed the cutter blade and found a size stamped on it- STD .025. That makes sense, since the blade is exactly 1/4", and suggests that other sizes were available. I also recounted the teeth, there are 7 teeth. The extra blade is the same. Here is a pic, though I am not sure you can see it very well.

[bpmcgee]

I think it's obvious that the blade is designed to be held by the spring against whatever is sticking through that hole. But spring pressure wouldn't be enough to cut threads unless the receiving material is very soft, right?

Does that blade rotate at all? It's only held by the one screw, so if the screw was a hair loose, the blade would self-align on whatever it hit, right?

I'm guessing that the "clamp" portion wasn't intended to be screwed TIGHT, just firm enough to keep the work piece against the blade. The knurled knob wouldn't give you enough purchase to clamp a round metal rod tight enough to cut threads. I think the blade was designed to rotate slightly to align itself against existing threads, and I think that they're right, the tool is a thread-chaser.

B

[Sillyoldman]

Could it simply be a device to pull long pieces of allthread like cross supports on steel buildings? Does that red piece ratchet? It looks like it could work
like a ratchet jack for pulling threaded rod.

[papawswrench]

One of my truck drivers suggested that this is tool to make the grooves in an arrow shaft for fletching. The feathers would then be slid into the grooves.
I chucked up a 5/8" dowel rod and the cutter did cut a groove about 1 1/4" long.

Any bowhunters out there with knowledge of old tools? Google search gave me many modern fletching tools, but nothing like this.

The cutter is adjustable so that it will parallel the work, so I guess it could be a mica undercutter as one of my Tool Talk members suggested.

[space]

Obviously, this is a bottle opener.

Seriously, I don't think this threads anything. I think it simply holds a pipe with a quick release or you can lock it in place. I have something similar to this on my drill rig. When pulling the pipe back up or letting it back down, the device will hold it in place while i add or remove sections of pipe.

[woodridge]

It is a keyway cutter for shafting. The little cutter is changeable for different width keyways. You place the shaft in the clamp area then when you move the handle back and forth the cutter contacts the shaft with spring pressure cutting a keyway.























Sounds good anyway.

[papawswrench]

The mystery is solved! And it was the first suggested answer by one of my Tool Talk members.
This tool is a mica cutter. Here are two pictures of the one he knew about, although a little different, it is the same tool.

[Tynee]

COOL!! What's a Mica Cutter? More to the point, what's a mica?

[papawswrench]

In a generator, the commutator is a series of copper or bronze plates divided by mica insulators on which the brushes travel and send voltage to the electrical system.

[Tynee]

I can now check off the box where it asks if I learned something today...

BTW, Cool thread, we need more of these...

[papawswrench]

My pleasure. If you are interested in old tools, my Tool Talk Forum is a sister site to 67-72 and Street Cruizin . Check us out. We have tool What's-its all the time.

[Yukon Jack]

Very interesting thread!

[woodridge]

Oh well, I was close.

[GoobersBlueBurban]

i was just going to say its a MYSTERY!!! lol.. maybe i should get one of those for the shop, since i make my living rebuilding starters and alternators.

[papawswrench]

Update!!
I bought another one of these on Ebay because the seller said his had a patent number on it. When I got it in the mail, I was pleased to see he was correct. The patent was issued in 1939 to Charles A. Payne of Brockton, Mass and produced by the Newnan Machine Co. of the same city. It was intended for the auto repair industry.
Goober , I now have two of them and know of 3 more. PM me if you really want one.