Posted 10 years ago
Bossmantom
(5 items)
I have absolutely no idea what this is. We would really appreciate your knowledge and expertise in this type of item. I guessed that it was some type of old fashion pencil sharpener but they all nixed that idea, others thought it was something else.
it is about 5 inches tall, sits on a cast iron three legged base, has a winding motion with a wire or spring looking thing inside. The hole is about the circumference of a standard pencil. The upper round part is made of wood. We would love to know what it might be.
Pictures aren't clear but is there a cutter blade in it? If so is the blade flat or cut at an angle to a point?
there isn't a blade
What is the metal piece in the groove in picture two? It appears to block the entire groove but the pictures are really bad so who knows.
In picture 1 & 3 the metal is retracted and not visible. It only shows in pic 2. Obviously it is mounted on a cam I would say. Correct me if I am wrong.
you are correct, the metal you see is almost like a spring or wire that gets taunt then loosens, sorry about the pictures, my wife took them on her iphone.
there isn't a wire that goes across the outside, that one picture is showing the wire inside, it makes it look like it is on the outside but it isn't.
OK, I am ready to give this a shot. I have never seen a devise like this made of wood but I have owned similar made of wood and steel. I think there is one piece missing that would have mounted in the slot above what you describe as a metal piece that retracts. I believe this would have been used to make fluted dowels and possibly cut the fluted end to length. The one I had would only take a 1/2" dowel but it would also cut threads in the dowel turning it into a wooden screw. Just my guess but gives you a possibility to research.
It's an old toy cannon. Here's a similar one:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/Mc8AAOSwcF9UWB07/_57.JPG
Sorry, that link doesn't seem to work. Here's the eBay item number: 141459542990