Whatzit

gibsontool · December 17, 2018, 05:51:25 PM

I think this is a jeweler's anvil but need confirmation. What do you guys think?

Bill Houghton · December 17, 2018, 05:58:13 PM

Looks to me more like something that had a pivoting something or other on the ball.

gibsontool · December 17, 2018, 06:14:44 PM

I had thought of that and you could well be right, but there is a flat spot on the top of the ball which led me to think of a small anvil.

gibsontool · December 17, 2018, 06:16:27 PM

It does say " LIFETIME " on it if than rings a bell with anyone.

amecks · December 17, 2018, 08:07:15 PM

The groove in the base makes it look like it was meant to mount on a pipe or other round shaft.

geneg · December 18, 2018, 06:28:38 AM

Seems like I remember seeing a saw filing vise that had a similar arrangement. A clamp with a large wingnut allowed you to set the holding angle on the ball.

gibsontool · December 18, 2018, 09:27:39 AM

I have a couple of the saw filing vises that geneg is talking about and they are quite a bit bigger than this guy but it could well be a smaller vise for a smaller saw. I went out to my shop this morning to have another look at this thing and now I can't find it. Spent most of yesterday cleaning up and organizing my shop but the organizing part is obviously not going so well.

geneg · December 18, 2018, 01:52:12 PM

I have at least one too. BUT the chance of seeing any of them this year is next to zero. Shop cleanup starts next year!

geneg · December 18, 2018, 01:53:22 PM

I say that every year.

Chillylulu · December 20, 2018, 11:10:59 PM

Jewelers tools, at least for silver or gold smithing, are usually not cast iron. They are very smooth, because you can only work metal as smooth as your tools.

My guess is it is for attaching something for theatrical use to a rail.

Chilly

Northwoods · December 21, 2018, 09:59:43 AM

Quote from: Chillylulu on December 20, 2018, 11:10:59 PM
Jewelers tools, at least for silver or gold smithing, are usually not cast iron. They are very smooth, because you can only work metal as smooth as your tools.

My guess is it is for attaching something for theatrical use to a rail.

Chilly

Something like this--only different? https://www.strobesnmore.com/Whelen-PAR-36-Round-Super-LED-Work-Light-Pedestal-Swivel-Mount.html

geneg · December 21, 2018, 10:01:27 AM

Good thought! I could see a small light attached to it.

gibsontool · December 21, 2018, 01:56:41 PM

You guys got me pretty well convinced it's NOT a jewelers anvil.

MAD · December 22, 2018, 01:22:31 PM

I am pretty sure it is part of a clamp for mounting photographic accessories etc. The missing piece of the ball joint probably connected to a a piece with a tripod thread stud for mounting a camera, flash, or light. Either that or it may have been a dedicated part of a photo flood light. That style of clamp is deigned to be multi purpose, clamping to flat or round surfaces.

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