Posted 7 years ago
rustytools
(2 items)
Mystery Tool Photos. 12" hand tool with heavy wood handle and an electric box attached to two probes and a curved strap. Could be an old current meter. Anyone know?
Old Tool Close-up | ||
| Tools and Hardware3854 of 9815 |  |  |
Thanks for the extra pics rustytools! That curvy 'band' in the middle looks like it is made of a different metal than the steel/iron the 'forks' are made of. IF (still hard to tell) the 'band' is only bolted to the 'electric box' part (but not actually to the 'forks' themselves) it really makes me wonder if the band is some kind of heating element, which might have been controlled by the missing front parts of the 'electrical box'.
I have absolutely *no idea* what you'd use such a stabbie-heatie thing *for*, on the other hand...?
https://www.google.com/search?q=antique+battery+tester&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicwe3NgKDVAhUO7mMKHTd-Cs8QsAQIIw&biw=1078&bih=487
https://www.chairish.com/product/275391/antique-perfect-battery-tester-on-iron-stand
Thank You bobby725 !
Thanks for the comment and another idea. The curved band is aluminum while the two probes are iron. The curved band, and probes are connected together with a common bolt along with a metal strap from the electric box.
Yup lzenglish -- that's gotta be it! Makes sense electrically now, the aluminum 'band' would serve as a "fixed load resistor" to allow what would have been an ammeter (the remains of the 'electrical box') to measure the current flow available from a battery that the probes would be touched to. :-)
THANKS for the info! It's a battery tester. It will be a great conversation piece and guess what it is item for family and friends.