Tool Help Identification

[intosteam]

A close friend of mine gave this to me for our traditional gifting we do this time of year. He presented it to me as a barb wire fence stretcher.
I'm not for sure he is correct!? What are your thought?
The piece is 30.5" in max length. I find only a patent date on it of what looks like 1895 Jan.
Thank you for any and all your help.

[Papaw]

Can't say for sure, but looks like it could be a fence stretcher. Need more of the date.

[Northwoods]

If not for barbed wire, how about for hog wire? That would explain more than one multihook.

[intosteam]

Thanks all so far.
Maybe on the multi wire, I wish I could be clear on how you'd use it?

[john k]

In photo 2, the long piece is the handle you pull on.  The Y shape piece goes against a fence post.  Hook your fence wire onto one or both of the other arms, and tug on it, to get the wire tight.  Other type fence stretchers, simply hook on the wire on both sides, but not this one. 

[intosteam]

John, I kind of thought that was the case when I first held it in my hands. The more I study it and try it as you suggest I find  contradictions. What's the other piece smaller piece that has the y at the bottom for? Driving me crazy!

[Papaw]

Maybe just for evening out the pressure on the post?

[jdjax]

I wonder if the small "y" part is how you would lock the stretcher by positioning it against the post after you pulled the lever to stretch the wire, leaving your hands free to fasten the wire to the post?

[Lewill2]

Patent #532,717 W. H. Beal Patent

I believe Jadax is correct in the operation.

Shown in The Fencin' Tool Bible by Bill Marquis but the patent isn't listed in the book.

[intosteam]

JDJAK 100% correct!, I found another with a newer patent date and bit of a different function. None the less that's the exact conclusion I came to.
Thank you all. solved!!

[Catch22!]

Found one that is similar other than the crescent shape.  I think this is a fence stretcher and that crescent is for putting against a post.   Here is   WICHITA KANSAS FENCE STRETCHER TOOL

My thinking is that you would be on the far side of the fence post.  Hook the fence wire in and the use the puller to come past the pole and then secure the fencing to the pole.

[intosteam]

Catch 22, thank you. That's most similar to the one I found.
We got it solved!
Thank you.

[Plyerman]

Wow, what a contraption. Good job on solving the mystery guys!