Let’s play again what is it!

[formariz 11,988]

It’s raining and I can’t be going around checking birdhouses so I got to stay busy.

[stevasaurus 22,841]

I think that would have been used to straighten or plumb a fence post and hold it while back filling.  

[johnnymag3 2,521]

looks to me like it would be used to clamp or hold something. Fence post does not come to mind, but Ive been wrong before....Cool looking tool

[CCW 1,300]

It appears that the handle articulates which will cause the jaws to close thru the openings of the 90 corner.  Perhaps a clamp for some form of framing.

[Ed Kennell 38,580]

It certainly could grasp and twist a round or square piece of wood.    The key may be in the hook on the handle.   Any dimensions Cas?

[formariz 11,988]

Getting very warm but need specifics. Tool is 2x2 at the angled part and handle is about 4”.

 It’s extremely rare. The only ones I ever come across I own. Never seen them anywhere else not even photos of one. There aren’t any marks on them. Perhaps the only tool I own that I don’t know who made it. There are modern versions although looking quite different and totally ineffective compared to these.

[formariz 11,988]

Can tell you also that although it can be used in a variety of operations it is invaluable for a specific job. You can manage with one for that but two of them is the right number for it. It totally eliminates the frustration out of that job. 

[SPINJIM 1,981]

Looks like it would clamp onto a piece of angle iron, but for what purpose?

[rmaynard 15,580]

Could it be a frame clamp? An early version of one of these

[Ed Kennell 38,580]

Wrench for joining wood with these.

[formariz 11,988]

13 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

Could it be a frame clamp? An early version of one of these

Sort of could be. You cannot however use the type of clamp in your picture for the same operation . That one is good for picture framing where you use four of them otherwise the miter has a tendency to slip with only two . You have to use those on a table. No table on this operation.

Edited April 18, 2020 by formariz

[ebinmaine 68,144]

[953 nut 55,705]

Looks like they would pull miter cut boards tight while banding a crate.

[formariz 11,988]

Now, some of you may be thinking that if I have never seen another one, not even a photo and have no idea who the manufacturer was how can I be certain of what it is?

 If you indulge me I’ll tell you a little story. Sometimes the story behind an object is more precious than the object itself;

 when I was in my mid to late 20s

I did a lot of work at Columbia University in New York City. We did a lot of restoration work keeping in line with the existing woodwork which is nothing short of breathtaking in some spaces. My work partner was an elderly carpenter. His name was Zev ( short for something very hard to spell). He was a Holocaust survivor. Had a long number tattooed on his left wrist. I recorded that number and still have it somewhere here. He was very instrumental in influencing me for the rest of my life along with many others ( lots of stories). Through out the process of carefully dismantling some of the existing work from the 1800s, there were these curious marks on everyone of a certain part of such work.  Curious I asked him what it was from, he then describing a tool for that work, stating also that although he had used one in the past he actually had never seen another one again.

  Scratched my head for a couple of months and then just forgot about it. That is until a few years back. On my knees going through a box of old door hardware in an antique shop I frequent on a regular basis all of a sudden I see these weird looking tools. Took me less than one minute to realize what it was. Surreptitiously I tried one on a piece of wood there. There were exactly the same marks. I have to say that I immediately had a tear running down my face because I can still hear him describing  it to me word by word.

 So that is how I know what it is . I have used them ever since. As I paid for them owner asked me if I knew what they were for? I certainly did know and always refer to them as the Zev .......

 

[8ntruck 7,068]

My initial thòught was some sort of corner clamp.

 

"Can get by with one, but the proper number is two."  "Breathtaking woodwork from the 1800's."

 

This leads me to believe this is a tool that a finish carpenter or cabinet maker would use.

[Mickwhitt 4,704]

The unusual shape if the handke has me wondering. Is the rounded notch designed to sit against something? Like a ratchet pawl to hold the tool from rotating with what its clamped to?

I also think it might be for gripping round stock not square, vee blocks support round bar not square.

I am no wood worker but are they for turning some kind of cylindrical component, like a threaded screw?

They would work like a stilson wrench, gripping the part in one direction and releasing in the other.  

You can tell I'm scratching around in the dark here lol 

Mick 

 

[Mickwhitt 4,704]

Doh!

[formariz 11,988]

Another view.

 

[Mickwhitt 4,704]

So locked in position in that fashion. It must be a clamp of some type .

Being only that size it's not heavy duty, and a job that's frustrating must be something that is fiddly and prone to moving while your trying to nail it etc.

Must be a clamp or cramp of some type.

Again wood is not my medium so I'm really in the dark here. 

But you spoke about working inside buildings, so not cabinet making, especially if it leaves tell tale Mark's behind.

You've got me so far, I k ow what I could use it for, but not what it was made for.

Mick 

 

[Mickwhitt 4,704]

I have a picture of one. 

Want me to reveal all or let folk keep on guessing?

Mick 

[formariz 11,988]

3 hours ago, Mickwhitt said:

I have a picture of one. 

Want me to reveal all or let folk keep on guessing?

Mick 

I would very much appreciate a photo of it or any information. PM it to me for now since they are very close to solving it. I am actually surprised they haven’t come up with it.

[Ed Kennell 38,580]

All I see is a clamp for gluing  a corner joint.

[formariz 11,988]

1 minute ago, Ed Kennell said:

All I see is a clamp for gluing  a corner joint.

Yes it is. But based on my clues what joint is rather frustrating to keep tight and aligned out on the field ? Not saying that it cannot be used in other instances, it is however king when it comes to that one. 99% of modern types have to be used on a table and cannot really be effective using only one. The 1% that directly mimics this ones function is nothing short of ridiculous. I have used and attempted literally hundreds of methods for that function throughout my life in the search to keep that joint perfect and nothing comes close to this. Not only because how it does that job but also how practical and easy it is to use. No fuss and instant perfection. Perhaps that is why its used was so prominent all over that place. Sometimes we look at "ancient" work and we wonder how were they able to make that so perfect and keep it that way? There is always an answer, just not always that obvious.

 

@Mickwhitt I will be very interested in the actual source you found it on. Based on the information you gave me I still cannot find it mentioned anywhere. Incredible that you found it there. Really obscure item since  besides Zev I never found anyone else that knew about it and I have been with quite a few older craftsman all my life.  Really curious as to the date of manufacture. They must have also come in different sizes because I remember marks at different distances from the corner depending on how large these pieces were.

[Yossarian 208]

You said it was found in a box of door hardware.  My guess is it's for building paneled doors.  

[Mickwhitt 4,704]

Its an american tool catalogue I believe. Strelfinger and co.

Still in print and available apparently for 25 dollars.

I think the other page might give details but I will ask the guy with the book. 

Best regards Mick