What is it? CXXIII

According to R.H. :

As usual -- I'm posting from rec.crafts.metalworking.

714) A cute little lapping plate, I believe. Perhaps for lens grinding.

The grooves allow some of the excess grit to flow off of the surface, and be added back with a fresh cycle when you momentarily lift the workpiece from contact.

715) A right-handed hammer for something -- either anvil work or stonework at a guess. (Right handed because of the angle that the faces make with the handle.) 716) Valve for something which needs to be insulated from the ambient air temperature.

I would suggest that it is either for tapping a beer keg of some particular flavor, or for something like a liquid nitrogen or liquid helium Dewar. The small fitting opposite the valve handle suggests the latter.

717) I would think that this is for bookbinding -- perhaps for creasing the join of the covers to the spine. 718) At a guess, something for stropping a razor edge of some form.

The leather shows some discoloration which suggest jeweler's rouge.

I can't quite figure out what would go in the cradle -- perhaps for stropping a sharpened wheel on a butcher's slicer.

719) Beyond doubt -- the control panel for a Tektronix oscilloscope.

Not quite the model of my latest (which is still far from new), but about the same period.

The (crt) display is to the left of the control panel in this style of 'scope. You can just see the side of the bezel surrounding it.

This one has some nice additional features, represented by the digital display in the upper-right-hand corner.

Now to see what others have said.

Enjoy, Don.

According to R.H. :

[ ... ]

Hmm ... perhaps a needle made from a cactus needle? I know that they were used at one time as being kinder to the record grooves.

Enjoy, DoN.

According to Andy Dingley :

[ ... ]

Yes -- they were some form of Bakelite with too little (or no) metal inserts, so the stress of the setscrews would eventually split the knobs -- especially on the smaller ones.

Enjoy, DoN.

This answer is correct.

Rob

Ok, I stand corrected. Thanks for the info. I still think that the English bookbinding references I've read refer to the sewing frame as such, rather than as a "press", but I wouldn't want to swear to it. The sewing frame has no top cheek at all only a cross bar for tying the cords or tapes. The signatures just rest loose on one another and are sewn through with one hand inside the open fold. There is lots of use for small wooden presses that hold things, like small variants of the lying press. We use those as well, and also call them "presses" though as you note they are really used more like a bench vise for books. Not the same thing as a sewing frame, though. The type of thing I'm referring to is the leading image at

Of course there was/is a fair bit of regional variation in the trade lingo, and as you note English English definitely has a more catholic interpretation of "press". You definitely have me beat on item 717, though. I'll be forwarding the picture as an FYI to a few binders, be curious to hear if anyone has used one of these things.

Regards,

Adam Smith Midland, ON

I think they used horn for needles (or was it thistle?), anyway I suspect "more specific" is going to be the needle material.

Adam

Five of the six have been answered so far:

714. Lapping plate

715. Saw hammer

716. Cactus needle sharpener

717. Bookbinder, the link on the answer page is the same one posted here by Adam.

718. Hard to tell from just the one angle, but I agree with DoN that it could be for stropping a blade.

719. Oscilloscope

Several new photos, a few links, and a correction for number 694 can be found on the answer page:

Rob

According to R.H. :

Out of curiosity -- was this expected to be placed on the platter and spun by that, with the user's hand holding the wooden cylinder against rotation?

Are there instructions on the back of that box for it?

Thanks, DoN.

"DoN. Nichols" wrote (referring to cactus needle sharpener): Out of curiosity -- was this expected to be placed on the platter and spun by that, with the user's hand holding the wooden cylinder against rotation?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ There are no instructions on the box, and I have no idea whether it originally had printed instructions with it. Here is how it would be used: You can see that the needle is held in a small chuck, which is driven by a wheel with a rubber tire. The tire is in contact with a sandpaper ring, which the tip of the needle also touches. You would hold the wooden base in one hand, and spin the green handle back and forth, applying gentle pressure against the sandpaper. The rubber tire would roll on the sandpaper, forcing the needle to revolve counter to its direction of motion, producing a little conical tip.

I mentioned to Rob in a separate e-mail, and I'll add here, just for fun--I also have a few phono needles that are made of bone, and have a triangular cross section. One end is sanded off at an angle, to produce a sharp tip, and this can be resharpened by sanding it very lightly.

Thanks! Good job on finding that, I'll pass it on the owner, I'm not sure if he is from one of the newsgroups.

Rob

"R.H." wrote in news:U%Sug.38133$ snipped-for-privacy@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com:

Have you ever considered adding a patents section to your blog page? Something that would include "the first of" and "significant improvements to", as well as the really wacky ones would be interesting. Ideas: light bulb airplane firearms (revolver, lever-action, etc) cotton gin lasts tools etc.

That's an interesting idea, but right now I'm too busy with work, family and friends to start a new project. I'll keep it in mind for when things slow down a little and I have more free time.

Rob

"R.H." wrote in news:dCcvg.38351$ snipped-for-privacy@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com:

I understand about growing projects and shrinking time. I "collect" patents as I hear or read about stuff. I might take my own advice and start a g-mail blog/web page.