I was in the Habitat ReStore the other day, and they had a "what is it?" on the front counter.  I got the chance to demonstrate that I'm a knowledgeable guy by explaining tube patch clamps.  This is the fanciest one I've ever seen.  The "base" has a metal cap with the "cheese grater" bumps used for roughing up the tube.  Unscrewing it reveals a round cavity that I suspect held patches.

I tried to buy it, so I could take pictures (and then donate it back - this is not one of the things I gather up), but the guy who set prices wasn't there.  If someone here does collect this kind of thing, let me know, and I'll call and see what they're asking.  I might be over there next week.

More than a bit cool !

neat - haven't seen one of those in a while.   have any approximate dimensions?   

Dimensions: not really; I was running late-ish to the next stop.  I'd estimate the clamping surface at about 2-1/2".

The lid is 2 1/8"
The clamping surface is 2 3/8"
The height is 4 5/8"

Mine is same as yours.  Red with black lid.  PAT PEND
No name at all

Mine is a little more compact but the same idea. I found an old school patch to store with the vulcanizer.
-Don

But the big question is--

How many of us have ever used one of these?

I have, but more often I would just use the patch and scraper, stretch the tube,  then burn the tube and patch together with some fluid such as lighter fluid. Then rub the patch with something solid like the back of a wrench to make sure the patch gripped completely

I remember my dad using one but I never used it myself. I patched lots of bicycle tires as a kid, we used to rough them up with sandpaper a file or whatever,a bit of glue and then stick the patch on and put something heavy on it for a while. This worked fine for me.
I know I have a few of these around but no idea exactly where they are

How else would a kid in the '50's keep his Western Flyer bike going?

We had a farm, and that meant 3 dozen or so tubes that had to stay tight.  Filled them using a compressor from an old freezer, built on a trolley.
Poor folks had poor ways.

Isn't that what's called a "hot patch" press? Hot patching was done way before my time - and I ain't a young chicken!

Were there any patches inside it?

I have used the hot patches many times. Not very often on cars or bikes, but the large press and patches for industrial or construction equipment. When something punches through one of those tires, you need big heavy patches.

Quote from: bonneyman on June 25, 2019, 06:37:26 PM
Isn't that what's called a "hot patch" press? Hot patching was done way before my time - and I ain't a young chicken!

Yep.  I'm 70, and I think the hot patches were the state of the art when the guys who were 70 when I was 16 were themselves 16 - or something like that.