No idea what it is.

[oldgoaly]

pics show everything, can not throw it away never know when you might need it! Got to be part of something but what?

[Bill Houghton]

"part of a zig-zag rule" is too obvious, so I won't say it 

It could be something like the simple clamps guitarmakers use when gluing the purfling on a guitar/other instrument.  Stewart MacDonald's current versions look like this:

but they were traditionally made by the craftsman, looking more like this:

I've seen some discussions of making your own that refer to hole saws for cutting out the "jaws."  I imagine, before power tools, that the jaw shapes were more varied, chosen by the fastest manufacturing method; as the Stewart MacDonald picture shows, you need a lot of them.

[oldgoaly]

I will have to try that see how they work.
Thanks Bill!

[wvtools]

Dealing in old tools, this type is the kind I am used to seeing.  I have not posted a photo in awhile.  I must be doing something wrong.  I got it to insert as a link, but not as just a photo.

http://www.wvtools.com/images/ebaystore/162482f.JPG

[lptools]

Nice!!!!!

[oldgoaly]

Yes it works!   going to clean it up a little since it has a good use!
But here it is in action, note the clean workbench..... for me that's clean!
this isn't my main workbench just a small one in the shed with pedal and treadle tools. The piece being held down will be a strip of trim for a Penthouse bar radio from 1934, still need to find the liquor bottles, found some shot glasses, and of course the radio needs capacitors. Never plug in a old radio!

[Northwoods]

Yes it works!   going to clean it up a little since it has a good use!
But here it is in action, note the clean workbench..... for me that's clean!
this isn't my main workbench just a small one in the shed with pedal and treadle tools. The piece being held down will be a strip of trim for a Penthouse bar radio from 1934, still need to find the liquor bottles, found some shot glasses, and of course the radio needs capacitors. Never plug in a old radio!

You might like this group if you haven't already found it. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/712743252141034/?fref=nf