What is this?

[Deuce24]

Recently found this in my barn. Can anyone identify it? Just curious.

 

[dragoneggs]

A guy with a rusted piece of junk with a styrofoam cup?

 

[dave1949]

Maybe a spool winder of some sort? The part in the left hand is hard to see from that angle but it could be some sort of fair lead.

 

[Deuce24]

Thanks Dave, that's a much better answer than the last one. Makes sense, too. Could be for the twine tying up the square bales.

 

[/pine]

Do you have a clearer picture of the "paddle" that's on the outside (on the right looking at the pic) ?

 

[Leejohn]

A saw blade sharpener, stone wheel missing??????????

 

[dave1949]

Are there no names stamped or cast on the thing that looks like a gear box?

 

[MossRoad]

A saw blade sharpener, stone wheel missing??????????

I think you're right...
Here's a link to a similar one on ebay...
Antique Manual Hand Crank Rotary Push Mower Blade Sharpener Stone Grinding Wheel | eBay

 

[pmsmechanic]

I'm going to say that it's a sickle blade grinder used to sharpen the sicles on a mower or binder. You could clamp it onto the sickle bar and move it back and forth to sharpen between different sickles

 

[Iowan]

A guy with a rusted piece of junk with a styrofoam cup?

Just what I was thinking!