Mystery Tool

[Rhyolith]

What the hell is this?

Mystery Tool by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Mystery Tool by Rhyolith, on Flickr

Turning the handle causes the entire thing to vibrate, this by spinning that disc that has an adjustable weight on it. The end part (with the thread on it) does not spin, but instead oscillates in a manner not dissimilar to a hammer drill.

 

[Mark A]

Mmm... turning the handle makes the end vibrate?

Victorian hysteria massager?

:mrgreen:

 

[Jake]

That's a leathermaker's tool for sure.

 

[bugbear]

What the hell is this?

Mystery Tool by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Mystery Tool by Rhyolith, on Flickr

Turning the handle causes the entire thing to vibrate, this by spinning that disc that has an adjustable weight on it. The end part (with the thread on it) does not spin, but instead oscillates in a manner not dissimilar to a hammer drill.

It appears that the end bolt/thread is off centre, and it also seems that there's a redundant "blob" on the end assembly where a simple threaded stuf might serve.

What's the "blob" ?

BugBear

 

[Rhyolith]

The blob contains the mechanism that makes the end part oscillate.

 

[Rhyolith]

That's a leathermaker's tool for sure.

But to do what? I don't know much about leather work.

 

[Jake]

Just a joke, interesting peculiar thing, and 'leather-maker's tool' is the default fairly risk-free identification option for unknown tools I guess precisely because no-one knows anything about it.

 

[AndyT]

I've no idea at all.

Do you know, Rhyolith?

Would it help to tell us where it came from? Are there any markings? Is the thread on the end metric or imperial?

But as it yours, I reckon it either cuts grass or drills holes....

 

[NazNomad]

It's for drilling square holes.

 

[Rhyolith]

No I have no idea and there are no markings (that I have found).

It came from a car boot, the seller knew nothing about it. I thought it was a drill :tool: but, it wasn't... i bought it out of curiosity anyway.

I have lots of other cool stuff... you just can't see it under all the drills and a great big iron lawn mower

It's for drilling square holes.

but it doesn't spin :lol:

 

[NazNomad]

So the nipple (lol) with the thread just goes in & out?

Is it heavy? Is it a riveter?

 

[Rhyolith]

So the nipple (lol) with the thread just goes in & out?

Yup, though the whole thing vibrates due to that weight on the disc... so the resulting movement is back and forth and side to side at the nib (is there a name for that kind of motion?). I may do a video of it tomorrow if the mystery persists.

No its not heavy, lighter than a hand drill that size (is comparable in size to a Stanley continental breat drill). The force in exerts is also pretty weak, its certainly not going to be manipulating any metal.

 

[NazNomad]

It's a steampunk egg-whisk (minus the whisk attachment).

 

[Dovetaildave]

I know your gonna laugh but I think I just saw one of these on TV today.......I think its a Prostate gland apparatus :lol:

 

[Bm101]

I saw that too, giving them out free to politicians at Westminster with any luck.
That looks like summat out of the butchers trade.

 

[lanemaux]

You know, if you could screw on an appropriate bit (say a narrow chisel-like bit) it might be a great tool for grout removal. Something for those times when you dare not break the tiles.

 

[bridger]

Part of a laboratory degassing apparatus?

 

[oakmitre]

Someone has already guessed it correctly

*Spoiler*

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/aucti ... 43000963ae

 

[AndyT]

Someone has already guessed it correctly

*Spoiler*

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/aucti ... 43000963ae

Brilliant!

I'll stop looking for it in old Buck and Hickman catalogues. How did you find it? Image search?

 

[oakmitre]

Andy T

Yes I used google images and the following guesswork.

It has a straight handle instead of a breast plate,and it has no attachement points so I assumed the operator would not be able to apply much forward force.So not a hammer drill.

Perhaps it could be an artist's paint mixer or chemist's emulsifier (will a small vial screwed on the end) ?

I then thought it could be a loosening device for use with heat / oil for locked fasteners.Especially for use in confined spaces.

The winning search was like this.

'vintage vibrating drill'>'vintage hand cranked massager'>'vintage blood circulator'

Matt.