# Does anyone know what this old tool is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494 "2009-03-15T03:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/41 "2009-03-17T03:23:58Z")
I’m surprised there is no manufacture markings. I find many cast tools have a patent or model number in the casting. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/42 "2009-03-17T05:09:05Z")
In [this Smithsonian exhibit](http://www.smithsonianlegacies.si.edu/objectdescription.cfm?ID=137), the tool in the “8 o’clock” position bears a resemblance to the tool in the OP, although there is enogh of a difference to leave the question open. And, of course, there is no explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/43 "2009-03-17T16:38:58Z")
It appears to be a mass manufactured article rather than a one-off. So my approach would be to find a Sears and Roebuck catalog from as far back as possible and spend some time thumbing through it. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/44 "2009-03-17T17:15:27Z")
Hmm. I’ve researched all the books in my extensive library thoroughly on this matter, and one conclusion stands out a mile. It’s a missing piece, perhaps even the last remaining outstanding piece, of an ancient Doomsday device that was too well crafted to destroy, but was instead disassembled and scattered over the land. This device is likely either (a) the controller to a vast, unstoppable inanimate army, (b) itself an enormous, unstoppable juggernaut, or © a homing beacon or gateway device to summon in some other vast, unstoppable force from another planet/realm/dimension. The literature is quite clear on this point, and there are too many similarities to documented cases to ignore this possibility. In any case, there’s definitely some very ancient and secret group dedicated to tracking this final piece down. Get rid of it as soon as possible. I recommend listing it on eBay as a rider item with something completely innocuous but highly collectible: “My Little Pony, first run from 1983 NIB, +thingy”. Or, if you dare, try to find and drop it into an active volcano, but beware, once you step outside your door, They are probably Out Looking for It. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/45 "2009-03-17T17:21:32Z")
You could always drop it into the fires of Mount Doom from whence it came. We could call your expedition The Fellowship Of The Thing. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/46 "2009-03-17T17:44:34Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > In [this Smithsonian exhibit](http://www.smithsonianlegacies.si.edu/objectdescription.cfm?ID=137), the tool in the “8 o’clock” position bears a resemblance to the tool in the OP, although there is enogh of a difference to leave the question open. And, of course, there is no explanation. The tool in the picture looks like the tool in the OP to me. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/47 "2009-03-17T18:00:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You could always drop it into the fires of Mount Doom from whence it came. > > We could call your expedition The Fellowship Of The Thing. I’m in! Who’s bringing the pipe weed? ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/48 "2009-03-18T00:38:29Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > It appears to be a mass manufactured article rather than a one-off. So my approach would be to find a Sears and Roebuck catalog from as far back as possible and spend some time thumbing through it. This was the first thing that I thought of. I looked, page by page, through 3 different old catalogs (Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, and something else) and didn’t see anything that looked like it. > [@robardin](#): > > Hmm. I’ve researched all the books in my extensive library thoroughly on this matter, and one conclusion stands out a mile. > > It’s a missing piece, perhaps even the last remaining outstanding piece, of an ancient Doomsday device that was too well crafted to destroy, but was instead disassembled and scattered over the land. This device is likely either (a) the controller to a vast, unstoppable inanimate army, (b) itself an enormous, unstoppable juggernaut, or (c) a homing beacon or gateway device to summon in some other vast, unstoppable force from another planet/realm/dimension. > > The literature is quite clear on this point, and there are too many similarities to documented cases to ignore this possibility. So what you’re saying is… I should stop letting 8 year old kids play with it? I went to work today and took a couple more pictures from different angles and with a standard sized post-it pad for reference. [Maybe](http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/heraldgwena/thing1.jpg) [this](http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/heraldgwena/thing2.jpg) [will](http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/heraldgwena/thing3.jpg) [help](http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/heraldgwena/thing4.jpg). The number on the top of it is for our museum’s catalog and doesn’t offer any extra information to what it is, just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/49 "2009-03-18T00:45:14Z")
Take a look at “[2 Cobblers Leather Working Tools At least one is marked. These are smoothers or edgers.](http://www.patented-antiques.com/Backpages/T-F-S/Misctools/leather-tools2.htm)” Not an exact match but close enough to think it’s kinda sorta the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/50 "2009-03-18T05:21:31Z")
Light weight metal indicates pewter to me. Picks up something hot. The wear on the face and not sides or wood side means leather work to me… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/51 "2009-03-18T10:05:35Z")
are the wear marks on one side (front back, left side right side) and are they striated or smooth? That will specify the motion of the tool and whether it’s worked against a relatively flat surface or something smaller like rope or string. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/52 "2009-03-18T16:05:13Z")
All the wear is very smooth. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/53 "2009-03-20T20:49:05Z")
If it’s smooth and on one side then I would vote for leather working tool. It’s being drawn relatively perpendicular to a smooth surface but at a slight angle to cause the wear. ---
**Author:** ![Kkrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Kkrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kkrose)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/54 "2009-03-29T04:13:31Z")
Did you ever figure it out? ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/55 "2009-03-29T20:57:51Z")
Still no concrete answers. I think leather working tool may be the closest we will get. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/56 "2009-03-29T22:00:50Z")
Did you send it to the blog I linked to? They are pretty good at identifying things like this. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/57 "2009-03-29T23:16:53Z")
I completely forgot to send it to the blog. I just sent the pictures his way, so maybe he will be able to tell us what it is. I will keep everyone posted. ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/58 "2009-03-30T03:06:10Z")
Any milliners in the audience? That’s my best guess. Something which helps in the construction of soft leather hats, bowler hats and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/59 "2009-03-30T05:20:02Z")
> [@heraldgwena](#): > > I completely forgot to send it to the blog. I just sent the pictures his way, so maybe he will be able to tell us what it is. I will keep everyone posted. This is the reply I got from the guy at the blog: > [@](#): > > Thanks for sending the photos, I don’t know what it is but I’ll show > it to a few of my experts and see what they think. My first guess is > that it’s for making sand casting molds. I’ll probably put in on the > web site but it will be a few weeks until I can post it. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/60 "2009-06-22T19:18:20Z")
This has been bugging me. Did you ever find out what the tool is? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494.md?page=4)