It is made of steel, and its not a pepper mill.  A woodworking tool, guesses welcome.

Without seeing the business end I'd guess a dowel or peg maker.

Here is the business end, pretty sure it is a dowel maker.  Has two cutter blades, one vertical and one horizontal.  The name is Taylor Tenon Machine Co.  Rockford Ill.  Pat. 1911.

NOT Exactly.
It cuts the dowel shape on the ends of things like chair rungs.

Damn, I was hoping it was it'd be a thin garlic clove slicer.  That I could use.

I've read the title of this thread ten times, and each time I want to say, "For resting after a hard week at work, of course!"

Quote from: Bill Houghton on February 28, 2013, 02:05:24 AM
I've read the title of this thread ten times, and each time I want to say, "For resting after a hard week at work, of course!"

Like it!

Mine looks just like it. I have had mine for about ten years, I couldn't pass it by when I saw it.

I never saw one before.  I would like to see it in use.
Seems like a poor way to do the same job in one size that a common hollow auger does to make 6 sizes of tenons?
You place the tool on the end of a peg and hold it still with one hand, while you crank with the other? Except you have to let go and reach around with every turn?
Is this why they are rare?

Or.... I am missing something?
You just crank with one hand and the tool holds still for you?

I am looking for a decent hollow auger. A regular Stearns or so, in decent shape, if anyone comes across a spare, cheap??
yours Scott

I'll have to look at mine again, I think there is a collet type grip at the one end to hold the dowel while you turn the cutting head.

>Seems like a poor way to do the same job in one size that a common hollow auger does to make 6 sizes of tenons?

Tho, if you are a chair factory, making the same things all day, the same size, with minimal skilled labor, and it is hard to muck the job up because there is no setup on the tool, it might make more sense...

I'm new to this forum but have enjoyed and collected old / unusual tools for years. I believe this one  is for pool cues. Trims the business end for a ferrule and then tip is glued on.

Quote from: scottg on February 28, 2013, 11:00:54 AM
I never saw one before.  I would like to see it in use.
Seems like a poor way to do the same job in one size that a common hollow auger does to make 6 sizes of tenons?
You place the tool on the end of a peg and hold it still with one hand, while you crank with the other? Except you have to let go and reach around with every turn?
Is this why they are rare?

Or.... I am missing something?
You just crank with one hand and the tool holds still for you?

I am looking for a decent hollow auger. A regular Stearns or so, in decent shape, if anyone comes across a spare, cheap??
yours Scott

I'd like to see it in use, too.  As for reaching around with every turn, looks to me like the crank end is the exit, so the crank doesn't get in the way. 
I suspect they are rare because each one will only work on one dimension of rung -- you'd have to have a set to tenon different diameter rungs, and I don't see how one of these could put a tenon on square stock.  Pretty limited.

Scott, I have one hollow auger, but I thought I had another.  If I find the other (probably over the next month or two) I'll let you know.  I don't *need* two of them.

Quote from: JohnD on February 28, 2013, 10:43:18 PM
I'm new to this forum but have enjoyed and collected old / unusual tools for years. I believe this one  is for pool cues. Trims the business end for a ferrule and then tip is glued on.

Yup
(http://www.google.com/patents?id=nyxvAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&img=1&zoom=4&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U1u0bwuErnpnQ8oYIcVgx4RUkU5nA&ci=100%2C100%2C799%2C1248&edge=0 ) is the patent drawing; the specifications say "pool cue tenon."

Apparently, there are quite a number of devices for performing this rather specific task..

A different Taylor one: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=70572

Many years ago I helped clear out an old umbrella makers -  they had tools like this for cutting the ends of wooden handles to take the brass ferrule.