# Can you identify this object? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 18, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121 "2005-12-18T02:13:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/21 "2005-12-18T21:47:15Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > From the point of view of the camera, between View 1 and View 2, did the attached part (closest to the camera) rotate clockwise (all the way around past the rectangular bit) or counterclockwise (over the gap of the forky bit)? It starts in the position in View one and goes clockwise until it stops in the View two position. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/22 "2005-12-18T22:00:58Z")
Dammit, I know I’ve used one of these, I just can’t remember what for, whatever it was , there is a far easier way of doing it, or at least hardly anyone would bother, you just wouldn’t bother looking all the way in your toolbox for it when you can get away without using it. I’m an electrician by the way, my guess is that it’s for something to do with cables or jointing or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/23 "2005-12-18T22:22:09Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I’m an electrician by the way, my guess is that it’s for something to do with cables or jointing or something like that. Nope. I would be very surprised if you had one of these. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/24 "2005-12-18T22:53:01Z")
Are the different ridges on the left end of the rotating part significant? The top one looks rounded and the bottom one sharp and not rounded. Is it used in the position shown or with the rotating part extending to the right? Would a view of the left end help us? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/25 "2005-12-18T23:11:16Z")
[View three](http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-1/584173/IM001283.JPG) (sorry, my camera doesn’t have a macro setting) When used properly, the side with the downturned tab rests against the forked end. See View two. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/26 "2005-12-18T23:32:18Z")
Adjustable tuning fork? (Musical) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/27 "2005-12-18T23:34:23Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > Adjustable tuning fork? (Musical) Nope. ---
**Author:** ![the\_PC\_apeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@the\_PC\_apeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_PC_apeman)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/28 "2005-12-18T23:43:05Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Nope. I would be very surprised if you had one of these. Would it be surpising if he had one because he is male? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/29 "2005-12-18T23:48:03Z")
> [@ThePCapeman](#): > > Would it be surpising if he had one because he is male? Nope. It’s not a gender-specific device, but you’d have to be in a specific industry to have gotten one of these. Like I said, I don’t believe the device ever took off. When you find out what it’s for, you’ll know why. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/30 "2005-12-18T23:59:40Z")
Weaving thread positioner. Thread cutter. Sudoku solver. Aircraft related? More clues, please, or I swear, I’ll quit… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/31 "2005-12-19T00:06:25Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > Weaving thread positioner. > > Thread cutter. > > Sudoku solver. > > Aircraft related? > > More clues, please, or I swear, I’ll quit… None of the above. It retains something. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/32 "2005-12-19T00:11:12Z")
Is it a pipe cleaner? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/33 "2005-12-19T00:29:03Z")
> [@cainxinth](#): > > Is it a pipe cleaner? Nope. Clue: Once you have used it for its intended purpose, you have to wait to use it again or you have to get another one. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/34 "2005-12-19T00:39:47Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Nope. > > Clue: Once you have used it for its intended purpose, you have to wait to use it again or you have to get another one. Does it hold something in position while it cools…drys…hardens? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/35 "2005-12-19T00:49:58Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > Does it hold something in position while it cools…drys…hardens? Yes, no, no, no. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/36 "2005-12-19T01:02:03Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Yes, no, no, no. Is it used to stabilize materials for braiding like cable, rope or wires? ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/37 "2005-12-19T01:02:28Z")
Does it have to do with soldering? or some such? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/38 "2005-12-19T01:04:10Z")
You ought to submit it to this website : [http://puzzlephotos.blogspot.com/](http://puzzlephotos.blogspot.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/39 "2005-12-19T01:05:42Z")
Nic2004 - stabilize would be stretching the point, but you’re close. It does keep something under control to an extent. SandyHook - nope ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/40 "2005-12-19T01:07:08Z")
I think this is a latch of some sort. The forked end fits over a rivet or stud, and the projections on rotating end applies force (in either direction) to the surface as needed to hold the assembly in place. I know I’ve seen one of these before… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121.md?page=3)