« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Is it a tool?  (Read 2435 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline harwill

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 25
Is it a tool?
« on: May 17, 2013, 01:17:21 PM »
Ok, 'nother whatsit:  This one is a 5/8 inch dia iron bar about 16" long.  It has been forged in the middle to create a rectangular hole about 3/8 x 1-1/8.  The ends are tapered, probably more so before someone re-purposed it to a double ended drift punch.  The exact center of the bar is marked through the center of the hole with a deep scribe line/chisel mark.  The whole thing appears to have been hand forged by a precision blacksmith!  See the pics for the other 1000 words...
Logged
"Sometimes I thinks Well..., and then again I don't know..."

Offline Nolatoolguy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2059
Re: Is it a tool?
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2013, 01:23:52 PM »
My first thought was for tap an die.

 The more I think I wonder if it was for a blacksmith rod bending tool. Basically slides over the end of the stock he's twisting or bending an after stock is heated we're he chooses he turns the handles.
Logged
And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

Offline lazyassforge

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 176
Re: Is it a tool?
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2013, 03:51:18 PM »
Harwill, I am not sure but I think Nolatoolguy may be right about it being a tap handle. Look about halfway down the page on this thread:

http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=299.msg1697#msg1697

I posted a picture of an old blacksmith tap I have. I am not at home to measure it but it has a rectangular head which may be what fits into your handle!

Hope this helps, Bill D.
Logged

Offline anglesmith

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 409
  • Mid Northcoast NSW Australia
Re: Is it a tool?
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2013, 10:53:50 PM »
 I also think it is a tap wrench, According to trade pattern books rectangular ends on taps seemed to be generally common prior to about the 1850s, and they were two taps per set ( a tapered thread tap and a parallel tap)  Though top British engineers like Maudslay, Clements and Whitworth were using (modern!) three set square drive  (drop through) small shank taps as early as 1828 (English and American tool Builders By J W Roe)
Graeme
Logged

Offline harwill

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 25
Re: Is it a tool?
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2013, 11:08:43 PM »
Well Y'all may be on to something here!  The taper on the ends may have been used to enlarge or even punch the starter hole for the tap in hot metal.  The sides of the rectangular hole with the score mark (not visible in the picture but vertical below the 8" mark on the tape measure),  has evidence of some wallowing that may have come from a tap...
If true, this could be from the 1800's?  Interesting notion.
Thanks all.

Harley
Dallas, Tx
Logged
"Sometimes I thinks Well..., and then again I don't know..."

Offline johnsironsanctuary

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1908
  • Super Contributor and Geezer in training
Re: Is it a tool?
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2013, 08:34:40 AM »
Always remember that tools were not invented to do work. Work was invented so you could use tools.
Logged
Top monkey of the monkey wrench clan

Offline Wrenchmensch

  • Contributor
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1114
  • Wrenches tell of man's freedom to think
Re: Is it a tool?
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2013, 10:51:50 AM »
Always remember that tools were not invented to do work. Work was invented so you could use tools.[/color]

As I get older, the ability to resist editing another man's copy has weakened.  In place of the word use, how about design, as in "Work was invented so one could design tools to get it done more efficiently."
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »