What is this

pmsmechanic · Jun 12, 2015

A friend of mine posted this picture on face book and wondered what it is. Can anyone help out here?

I think that when you push the lever it causes the cam to rotate which in turn drops the hammer on the punch on the left side of the picture.That's about all I can figure. I asked her for more pictures so we'll see if she post's more. I'll repost them here if she does.

bcp · Jun 12, 2015

I'm guessing a mechanism for ringing a large bell.

Bruce

dave1949 · Jun 12, 2015

No idea. The lever looks like it has a tang that would hold a wooden handle. The offset in the length of the two round things on the bottom is some sort of clue, and the punch looks like it has a depth stop.

KevT · Jun 12, 2015

I agree it looks like a bell ringer.

Mysfyt · Jun 12, 2015

It looks like it would mount in a hole in a table and would be able to swivel. The part that the punch goes through looks like it would 'hold' something that the punch would split when the hammer is released. A Rube Goldberg nutcracker?

2LaneCruzer · Jun 12, 2015

I think the sharp object is designed to punch a hole...and it does look like a depth stop. I don't think it would deliver a powerful enough blow to penetrate something like a barrel though. I suppose it could be designed to ring a bell, but if so, I would think something is missing.

EddieWalker · Jun 12, 2015

Way too complex to just ring a bell. I'm thinking it's some kind of opener that punches a hole into something specific.

Eddie

Mysfyt · Jun 12, 2015

If it were a bell ringer, why wouldn't you have the hammer part just ring it?

davesl708 · Jun 12, 2015

My guess would be a device to punch and rivet leather. Delivers just the right amount of force as not to crush the leather when flattening the rivet or grommet.

Mysfyt · Jun 12, 2015

davesl708 said:
My guess would be a device to punch and rivet leather. Delivers just the right amount of force as not to crush the leather when flattening the rivet or grommet.

This makes sense.

Mace Canute · Jun 13, 2015

The four point star portion of it looks like a small trip hammer but what it's purpose was is beyond my ken.

Depmandog · Jun 13, 2015

I agree it's missing a wood handle. Seriously doubt it's leather related..

I am thinking when you push down on the handle it drops the tang and forces it out. Imagine a woodworking scenario, the center pipe on the bottom rests in a workbench dog hole. You have a couple of boards laying flat on the bench that are slid up against bench dogs. You need to compress the boards and you use this to apply leverage to squeeze them together. Perhaps some custom tool for the furniture industry. The little nubbin on the side of the tang would rest on top of the board. Notice the difference in elevation from where the tool would rest on the workbench to the bottom of the tang holder? Perhaps an inch? Board thickness ?

That's my best guess. :laughing:

bcp · Jun 13, 2015

A variation on this:

72. Intermittent Gear, Trip Hammer - 507 mechanical movement animation

Bruce

Egon · Jun 13, 2015

Wheel counter activation device. Surveying???

pmsmechanic · Jun 14, 2015

I enlarged the picture to 400%. Lots more details. The right round piece (shaft) is adjustable in a slot. You can just see the slot to the right. The left round piece with the punch in it has worn a circular divot in the hammer head. The left round piece also has notches around the outside and I believe that there would be an advancing mechanism to turn that left drum every time the lever is pushed. The "punch" does not have a sharp point and it has a rounded edge on the lip sticking out. I'm starting to think that it is a tool to round over the edge of a hollow brass or similar metal bushing to rivet it into a hole.