Tool ID needed

a device to hold and position a lens or crystal?

looks like a bolt splitter, kinda........

I think it was an experimental "flash tube." Glass might be cemented on the front and back surfaces of the "donut." The tube at the bottom would be used to extract or introduce whatever gas you want to play with. Two of the electrodes (opposite each other) are connected to the main power source. The third at the angle is used to "fire" the gas. The threads permit easy adjustment of the "spark gaps."

Frankly, I am more interested in the other things.

When you get all the answers, get back to us.

Looks like a primitive 'hole saw'. both cutters should probably adjusted and the same radius from the center point. It looks to be made to go into a brace (as in brace and bit).

Or a washer cutter???

it resembles the holder for dies in a tap and die set, however, the single woden handle would indicate it for working with softer materials then metal. perhaps wood or plastic. the guides appear to be made for sliding along a guide bar while the workpiece turns.

that's assuming it is a tool... it might be a control lever with the "guides" being range stoppers.

Someone named "R.H." Proclaimed on Tue, 28 Sep

Some kind of clamp, Hargrave Brand, made by Cincinnati Tool.

Someone named G. Morgan Proclaimed on Tue, 28 Sep

Nevermind, you said #140.. I was looking at the top one...

smooth knobs mean hand adjustment - not a nut splitter wood handle protruding through - did not have a vacuum inside

hard to see metal strap, does not appear to go all the way around, perhaps only to first two bolts If so, probably an electrical device in the High voltage range 1k to 10k volt range But what? spark gap, adjusting tool for the old carbon arc lights ?? Not sure what third bolt is for, a tap off? But tabs do not look used, seem to be electrical contacts of some sort

These guys send me emails all the time. That looks like it could be the tool they are selling. If you need the link, for your research of course, let me know.

From: Subject: Ad:d Inc:hes

From: "DR. BI:Gpeter" Subject: SuRPRISeH:E:R

It's a device used to test the spark quality on a gasoline engine. Used most often by small engine mechanics. It works great, and will establish if there is a spark present sufficent to ignite the fuel. Some models have a alligator clip attached to one of the screws for attaching to the engine block.

Louis --

Hole saw for potlights got one from greenlea about 50 years newer

It's an antique medical device used to remove excess foreskin from a penis. Could you imagine when the doc started clamping that tool down on your equipment!

Some of these have been answered on rec.puzzles, in the thread "What is it? XXV", there are some other answers in the comments at the bottom of my site.

Rob

A couple questions concerning your reply, I couldn't find verification of your suggestion on the web, any idea if they had a name or who sold them? Are these still used? If not, how old might this be?

Thanks to all who responded to my post. Here is a list of suggestions that I've gotten for this one:

-hand vise

-electroplating tool

-device to hold lens or crystal

-bamboo splitter

-spark checker for small gas engine

-tester for bulbs

-thread cutter

-used to make barley twist carving

-experimental flash tube

-control lever

-adjusting tube for old carbon arc lights

I've been posting links to my site over on rec.puzzles once or twice a week when I update it, please stop over and join us if you are interested.

Rob

It is a tool for evaluating the quality of a gas engine spark. I am sure of that.

I believe it was called an ignition tester. Briggs & Stratton, and many other vendors sold them. I expect they were made by some common mfgr., and r ebranded by Briggs and others.

The one in your picture is a bit different in that the tabs appear to make attaching probes to the two electrodes easier for testing voltage required to bridge the gap?

I'll post a picture I found on alt.binaries.schematics.electronics.

Interesting site you have.

Louis--

Thanks for your help in solving this one and for posting the photo. Any chance you could describe how it's used in just a sentence or two?

Rob

There are quite a large number of evaluations that a clever technician could use such a tool for, but in the interest brevity I'll list a few of the most common.

The lawn mower, or other small engine device wont start. Fuel or ignition? Hook the plug wire to the device, and the other terminal to the engine block, and a visual test of the ignition components under load is effected. Changing the electrode separation distance will change the degree to which the components are loaded (a wider gap will require greater voltage to arc across the gap).

It could also be used to measure (with a probe attached) the upper end of the coil/system output voltage.

It's a quick check for an engine that refuses to start using a durable, and inexpensive tool.

Louis--

Un huh.

But why is the THIRD electrode there.