Posted 9 years ago
Lionel-Ari…
(1 item)
WHAT WAS THIS TOOL CALLED AND WHAT WAS ITS PURPOSE?
This well-made (presumably factory-produced) brass device of length about 8.5cms (3.25" - compare with the pen shown alongside) and uniform thickness of about 5mm (1/5"), RESEMBLING a pair a pair of scissors in weight, in feel (having 2 'handles' each with a single finger holes), and in action (having a hinge which can open up to 180 degrees), but DIFFERING from scissors in that firstly the device ends at the hinge (ie there are no blades beyond it) and secondly the shank of the 'handles' each bear matching semicircular cutouts that form 3 holes of different sizes when the 'scissors' are closed.
Possible uses that seem precluded are: (1) as a gauge to establish the sectional size of rods or cables, but for the absence of any markings whatsoever; (2) for the crimping of connections, but for the absence of much mechanical advantage; and (3) for the stripping of insulation from the end of wires, but for the semicircular cutouts being untapered and not sharp.
The device belonged EITHER to my dad, Alf Moss (z"l: 1912-1999) , of London, England, who had been an inventor, electrician and then a designer and manufacturer of prams, pushchairs and later of fluorescent light fittings, and whose hobbies included collecting curious items bought in flea markets, OR to my Uncle David Owen (z"l: 1909-2000) of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire (near London), who had been a pharmacist, and whose hobbies had included chemistry (as a teenager) and later gardening.
A crimping thingy! Possibly for the elements within a lightbulb.
It's one of the curious things he bought at a flea market.
GeodeJem - thanks for commenting, but 1stly the only 'crimping' or rather 'pinching' that I imagine that might take place within a light bulb would be of glass around the 'lead-in' wires, and secondly this would need to be done at a high temperature and on a more mechanised basis than manually with a hand tool. But it's a nice idea linking with my Dad's activities.
Yes Gillian, I'm inclined to think you're probably right, and thus it was acquired to join the other items in my Dad's remarkable museum, which included a 1735ish Moorish flintlock rifle and (subsequently stolen!), an 18th century ship's octant (not sextant!), plus many other curios he'd picked up in markets, for all of which I can identify their name and purpose, EXCEPT for this curious brass scissors-like thing! :)
I am sorting through may parents things. I had a box which came under the heading of kitchen tools, but a similar item to yours. Yours appears to be brass. My immediate thought when I saw it was "pocket nutcracker". Could it be a cigarette or doobie holder? Mine turned out to be German made soft boiled egg top cutter.
Well Micheleusa - thanks for your comment, but I doubt it was a nut cracker as the cutouts haven't the serrations required to grip a nut and also it's hard to apply a lot of force with a scissors type handle. And as for holding a cigarette etc - that would be really awkward!
possibly avian banding tool
thanks tallcakes - that suggestion doesn't sound implausible.
If is was a banding tool it would be hard to use. Getting it around the bird's leg with the band ready to crimp would be much easier if it was more scissor-like with the crimping spots on the outside jaws rather than inside. Also there's very little leverage where they are now.
Thanks Ron - your comment, clearly based on some related experience, now makes it being a banding tool unlikely, thus the designed use of this tool remains a mystery...