# Weird old tool-like thing needs ID please **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180 "2016-11-27T17:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/1 "2016-11-27T17:14:32Z")
http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx77/Hoppy\_09/20161127\_055936.jpg"][http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx77/Hoppy\_09/20161127\_055936.jpg](http://s743.photobucket.com/user/Hoppy_09/media/20161127_055936.jpg.html) Anybody got any idea? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/2 "2016-11-27T17:18:43Z")
I got nuttin’. It looks vaguely like a gigantic can opener. But… Nah… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/3 "2016-11-27T17:19:46Z")
I’ve seen similar painted on rocks on Navajo land in the Southwest. ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/4 "2016-11-27T17:27:11Z")
Google image search says its a reptile :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/5 "2016-11-27T17:57:16Z")
[del]Looks like some kind of log or lumber dog, designed to hold logs or big timber in place as it’s sawn. I’d guess the tri-fork end snaps into some kind of sturdy pivot or loose fitting, and the vicious end acts as an anti-kickback dog.[/del] Wait, probably not. Didn’t see the wrench-like coupler right at the tip. However, it doesn’t look at all for hand use. I’d bet railroad or other big-machinery use, for coupling, decoupling, moving large castings along, something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/6 "2016-11-27T17:59:55Z")
> [@campp](#): > > It looks vaguely like a gigantic can opener. But… Nah… Looks like it’s designed for opening beer bottles [like this](http://www.king-sheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/giant-beer-bottle-socked.jpeg). ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/7 "2016-11-27T18:00:09Z")
I think it looks more like a piece of something, rather than a tool. The Fella mostly agrees, but says it could also be a jig to hold something in place when welding (? I have no idea what he’s talking about). ---
**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:** [November 27, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/8 "2016-11-27T18:02:10Z")
Not sure what it’s for, but it’s made by a cow. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/9 "2016-11-27T18:13:45Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Not sure what it’s for, but it’s made by a cow. For the win. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/10 "2016-11-27T18:26:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ve seen similar painted on rocks on Navajo land in the Southwest. That’s what I was thinking- rotate it counterclockwise, and it’s a dancer with his arms raised and one foot in the air. ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/11 "2016-11-27T18:27:05Z")
Whoosh? Made by a cow? Anywho, I like the idea of a jig of some kind. This was found in my grandpas garage, who worked as factory labor (kilns at Norton Co), and could be part of a set up for a hydraulic press. ---
**Author:** ![SantaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SantaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/12 "2016-11-27T18:41:23Z")
> [@HotDogWater](#): > > Whoosh? Made by a cow? [Cow](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CowTools) [tools](https://cdn.drawception.com/images/panels/2013/6-22/ccT7Ey4Lzr-4.png) ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/13 "2016-11-27T18:41:49Z")
> [@HotDogWater](#): > > Whoosh? Made by a cow? > > Anywho, I like the idea of a jig of some kind. This was found in my grandpas garage, who worked as factory labor (kilns at Norton Co), and could be part of a set up for a hydraulic press. The cow remark is regarding a [Far Side cartoon](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2347642183_91247aa0c8_o.jpg). Tripler’s granddad worked in different shops and had all manner of tools, I wonder if he can shed light on this. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/14 "2016-11-27T18:47:35Z")
Since I got scooped on the cow tools joke I’m going to have to go with it being a component of a larger piece of machinery rather than a standalone tool. No idea what though. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/15 "2016-11-27T18:54:48Z")
The left end looks like a badly deformed hook spanner, but if that’s its normal shape, then I got nothin’. The other end looks like it might have had pins welded on at one time, and might therefore be a pin spanner. Gotta say, if it’s a double-ended spanner, it’s the most shoddily made one I’ve ever seen or heard of. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/16 "2016-11-27T18:56:50Z")
How thick is the metal? It looks like it has a very specific function and may be a one off piece. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/17 "2016-11-27T19:23:58Z")
Was this found anywhere near Roswell by any chance? Or Area 51? ---
**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:** [November 27, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/18 "2016-11-27T20:29:28Z")
Looks like the arm on a large scale of some kind. The hole on the left is for a rod to be able to hang different weights on for adjusting tare wight or to zero out the scale and on the right is how it was attached to the rest of the scale. Looks thick and heavy for higher weights. The hook part is where you hung what you are trying to weigh. Or I am totally wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/19 "2016-11-27T20:38:14Z")
Piece of a operating lever off a steam engine or railroad machine. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180/20 "2016-11-27T20:41:15Z")
Nice bike\*\* HotDog\*\*. Click the left arrow to get some closeups of the ends. The left end looks to have something like an open end wrench on it, or it just holds a post of some kind. Most of the metal appears to be about 1/4" thick. The right end has three different terminations, a thin cusp, a thick one, and a thick anvil like rectangle on the end. Seems like it’s a multi-purpose ‘Swiss Army’ tool. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-old-tool-like-thing-needs-id-please/773180.md?page=2)