Author Topic: Odd DOE found near the coast of Namibia  (Read 1365 times)

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Offline Papaw

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Odd DOE found near the coast of Namibia
« on: February 04, 2019, 12:33:12 PM »
I got an email from a guy in Namibia, which is on the coast of Africa north of South Africa.
He found a wrench buried some distance from the beach that he is trying to ID.
He did a vinegar bath and the photos attached show the result of years in the dirt and sand.
On the wrench you can see THILL , then some other letters that may be an H and then a U and then possibly an R.

Here is the text of his email-
"Hi Noel,

 

I picked up this old tool on the sandy shore well above and away from high water level between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund in Namibia.  The Walvis Bay enclave is a natural enclosed harbour and was used by Europeans from the 1800’s.

 

The tool was totally encrusted with sand and rust and I left it in a vinegar and salt bath for 3 days and then steel brushed it, but it is not yet clean and very pitted.  The name appears to be “Thill” but the second part starts with and “H” and then maybe a “U” and then “R”.  The tool appears to be hand cast in a very rough moulding because the teeth on the large side (±1 3/4”) appears to be slightly chamfered on the one side and square on the other - zoom in on photo and you will notice it.  The other side (±1”) is cast better with sharper edges.  The tool had been used as a hammer because the head of the 13/4” side had been flattened a bit.

 

I’m shooting in the dark and the question is;  who, what, where and how old?  I’ll appreciate some feedback on this interesting spanner.

 

Thanks and regards

 

Pierré de Wet

Namibia
He later explained that when he said "teeth", he was meaning "jaws".
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Offline papadan

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Re: Odd DOE found near the coast of Namibia
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2019, 10:15:30 PM »
Not familiar with the name, but it definitely is not from the 1800s. That wrench was made for hex head bolts, not square. Someone probably lost it when working on a sand buggy, don't take long for salt water to corrode metal.
VWs to D10s, I've fixed em.
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