What is it? XLIII

Yes, but you forgot to mention that it doubles as an automotive tool.

The slots are too thin for it to be an ashtray.

Nope

"R.H." wrote in news:pYhDd.9687$iu5.6281 @fe2.columbus.rr.com:

#240's a spreader for battery terminals (car battery). #231 looks like something telephone related (dialer from a switchboard?)

Regards, JT

These are all correct.

Correct

I don't see any cutting edges on this one

Yes

It's a watchmaker's tool, so I suppose they could use it for that.

Correct

The first two are right, but not the last.

So... is 239 a zoetrope or a zeotrope and what is it for?

Correct, it's for bike chains, I'm not familiar with roller drive chains.

Yes, someone from Starrett also suggested that they might have been modified.

It's hard to read, but for the record mine says "S-7".

I hadn't noticed the stop screw, thanks for the info.

Correct.

The bottom of this one isn't open, it's not a lens hood.

Yes, it's for expanding something, but not for tubing.

Correct.

Both of these are correct.

I had to check, it's zoetrope, I think I've been pronouncing it wrong for years. You put in strips of paper with drawings on it and then when you spin it the drawings appear animated when viewed through the slots.

Not a wire cutter...

Correct.

This one isn't any type of tool, it an old type of toy.

Nope, it's made of plastic.

The easy ones:

238 is a basic can-opener, of a type often found in shops specialising in outdoor stuff.

Cheers - Ian

Both correct.

Geeze, my server blows today. Piggybacking.

A word (and device) I'm familiar with, but never checked the etymology of. The OED reports its first use in 1867:

zoetrope [irreg. f. Gr. life + turning.] A mechanical toy or optical instrument consisting of a cylinder open at the top, with a series of slits in the circumference, and a series of figures representing successive positions of a moving object arranged along the inner surface, which when viewed through the slits while the cylinder is in rapid rotation produce the impression of actual movement of the object. Also called wheel of life. 1867 ?Aunt Carrie? Popular Pastimes for Field & Fireside 229 The Zoetrope is a newly invented toy. It presents a series of striking optical delusions. 1869 W. S. Gilbert ?Bab? Ball., Capt. Reece vi, And, also, with amusement rife, A ?Zoetrope, or Wheel of Life.? 1881 Athenæum 29 Oct. 567/2 By a zoetrope these figures are projected on a screen, and the clown exhibited as in motion, with all his changes of position.

Bob? Is that you, you BASTARD!!!!!! PCB bound!!!