Guess The Tool

[Blue Ox]

Well damn. All this time I thought it was some kind of fancy tool, lol. Now the sping-loaded pivot makes sense.

It's missing the clamp bolt under the big hole, but other than that it looks like it's in excellent shape.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Okay I got one. I don't know what it's called besides wrench/knife or knife/wrench. Have any of you seen one of these? If so, what is it used for? One end measures 5/16 or 8mm, and the other is a shade over 3/8 and measures an even 10mm. I asked grandma if it was something she used when she worked at Mars Candy Company in Chicago during WWII and she didn't recognize it as something she used there. Grandpa passed away '87 so there is no asking him, but I've had it since the 80's so it has to be something he had used at some point. Maybe he acquired it during WWII, but I doubt it because he was captured right at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge on the Schnee Eiffel and spent the rest of his time marching as a POW and in a Stalag. Somewhere between the time they were born and the 1980's it was acquired by him or her. It was made by the Miehle Printing Press and Manufacturing Company, but that's all I can find on it.

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[Blue Ox]

That's pretty slick. My uncle and father-in-law were both printers, and there's a good chance one of them would have been familiar. Unfortunately neither of them are around anymore to ask.

 

[78C10BigTen]

That's pretty slick. My uncle and father-in-law were both printers, and there's a good chance one of them would have been familiar. Unfortunately neither of them are around anymore to ask.

If it was forged by a printing company i would think its purpose built for a press somehow...

 

[DoubleDingo]

That's pretty slick. My uncle and father-in-law were both printers, and there's a good chance one of them would have been familiar. Unfortunately neither of them are around anymore to ask.

It is neat. I've never used it for anything, it just sits in a drawer so it doesn't get damaged or anything.

If it was forged by a printing company i would think its purpose built for a press somehow...

Could be. But companies during WWII sometimes would stop making what they were, retool, and then start making war related items.

Been doing more research on my grandpa recently, and in doing so discovered some stories written by soldiers that fought next to or within close proximity of him.

In one guys story he talked about being an apprentice as a tool and die maker for Union Hardware Company. That company made roller and ice skates, sporting goods and hardware tools. He said when war was declared the company stopped all production, retooled and began production of 30 Cal Carbine Magazines, Machine Gun Clips and other equipment for the Armed Forces. Then he got drafted.

Grandpas story is much different than that guy's story, but they ended up in the same place.

 

[78C10BigTen]

It is neat. I've never used it for anything, it just sits in a drawer so it doesn't get damaged or anything.



Could be. But companies during WWII sometimes would stop making what they were, retool, and then start making war related items.

Been doing more research on my grandpa recently, and in doing so discovered some stories written by soldiers that fought next to or within close proximity of him.

In one guys story he talked about being an apprentice as a tool and die maker for Union Hardware Company. That company made roller and ice skates, sporting goods and hardware tools. He said when war was declared the company stopped all production, retooled and began production of 30 Cal Carbine Magazines, Machine Gun Clips and other equipment for the Armed Forces. Then he got drafted.

Grandpas story is much different than that guy's story, but they ended up in the same place.

I honestly didnt even think of a war effort tool.

 

[DoubleDingo]

I suspect it is for printing or the like since it is such a small wrench and the knife could have been for cutting paper, but you never know. Maybe it was for locking down nuts or bolts after making adjustments for firing mortars or something and the knife was used for whatever it needed to be used for. Since I have never fired a mortar I have no idea what is involved. I tried looking up information on this thing years ago, and over the weekend I remembered this thread and figured there might be someone from somewhere in the country that has possibly seen one or had heard about them.

 

[Blue Ox]

ICould be. But companies during WWII sometimes would stop making what they were, retool, and then start making war related items.

Most companies did. GM was building everything from TBM Avengers to M1 Carbines. Chrysler made tanks and Ford Build more B-24 Liberators at the Willow Run plant than any other bomber in our fleet. You want to see something really interesting look up Chrysler tank engines. Five inline six-cylinders ganged together. Crazy stuff.

One of the ones that struck me the most was lipstick manufacturers making ammunition. When you think about it, there's very little difference between a lipstick case and a rifle cartridge. Picture that the next time you see some hottie freshening up her lip gloss.

 

[Blue Ox]

I was using this one today and thought it might be a little bit of a challenge:

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[SDJunkMan]

I was using this one today and thought it might be a little bit of a challenge:

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Looks like some type of adjustable spanner wrench.

 

[shiftpro]

If it was forged by a printing company i would think its purpose built for a press somehow...

I could just be swag from the company..

 

[Blue Ox]

Looks like some type of adjustable spanner wrench.

It is. But the question is for what purpose?

I'll give you a hint. It's not an automotive tool.

 

[crpntr78]

Looks like it's used to install the hardware for the privacy panels in public restrooms.

 

[Blue Ox]

Looks like it's used to install the hardware for the privacy panels in public restrooms.

Interesting guess, but that's not it.

It's about 2-3/4" wide if that helps.

 

[bucket]

I've seen one before.




But I didn't know what it was then either.