SEPTEMBERANSWERS TO
MYSTERY TOOLS
C. Unidentified. R.W. Grunewald,
Benbrook, Texas, has two aviation-related
theories: “There are two possibilities for
the cone-shape piece that fell from an
aircraft,” he says. “Probably it was used
to tow an aircraft banner. To tow a
banner, a weight is needed on the
bottom of the rod used to hold the
banner upright as it goes through
the air. Slip stream from the aircraft
propeller tends to make the banner
rotate if it is not weighted. Or it
may have been a weight used on
aircraft for a radio wire antenna
reeled out for long distance radio
contact. Weight on the end of
the wire keeps it taut instead
of whipping in the high
airspeeds.” Photo submitted by
Richard Bader, Middletown, N.Y.
.B. One tool from a set of four used to remove old packing from
bearings and stuffing boxes on equipment. Identified by Vern
Notestine, Frankenmuth, Mich.; Fred Wilhelm, Meridian, Idaho; C.J.
Shortridge, Dagsboro, Del.; William R. Amaducci, Randolph, N.J.;
and Michael Niemann, Lake Jackson, Texas. “The screw is manually
turned into the soft packing material, then pulled out from the
gland, removing the old seal,” Vern explains. Photo submitted by
Frank Kuehl, Neenah, Wis.
F. Saw jointer (incomplete) used to level saw teeth
before sharpening. File is mounted in the device to
remove high points. Identified by Vern Notestine, Randy
Gorsett, Silt, Colo.; Clifton L. Buchholz, Carbondale, Ill.;
Randy Winland, Prospect, Ohio; Jack Kalp, Acme, Pa.;
Loren Lindsay, North Mankato, Minn.; Spencer Wilson,
Winnsboro, Texas; Ken Gates, Bellevue, Neb.; and Royle
Bailard, Alto, Mich. See patent No. 982,458 for a similar
piece. Photo submitted by Michael J. Marx, Clark, Colo.A. Cooper’s splitter (sometimes referred to as a cleave). Used to
split a white oak sapling to use in making barrel hoops. Three
cutting edges on the face (or working end). Holding the sapling in
one hand and the splitter in the other, working the splitter up and
down and right to left, an experienced workman could quickly split
an 8- to 10-foot sapling into three pieces. Photo submitted by Steve
Sylvester, Centuria, Wis.
D. Appears to be a yarn winder missing the stand that
held it in vertical position, where it rotated to make a
hank or skein of yarn. Photo submitted by Julia Ainsworth,
Vermontville, Mich.E. Unidentified. Photo submitted by D.J. Barbuto and B.P.
Hogan, Lynn, Mass.Patent No. 982,458: Saw jointing tool.
Patent awarded to Dorsey G. Andrews,
Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 24, 1911.