What and how are these used?

[Mel Larsen]

Some more garage sale finds.  I think they are some sort of threading tools but I am not sure.  I can't figure out how they were used.
Mel

[scottg]

Oh crap!!!
Those are hand threading tools for a wood lathe!!
     Gads! I never see these.

You know those little wooden boxes with screw on lids?  The ones you look at and wonder "How in the he-l did anybody ever make this?" 

Scarce tools. They are to be mounted on a handle and used freehand to cut precision threads on wooden objects.
Obviously some skill is involved, ahem.
yours Scott

[Mel Larsen]

WOW  who would have thought.  After your post I found a You Tube video on how they are used.  I would have never guessed they work.  Thanks for the information,  here is the link to the You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-j16CrwHeM
Mel

[Mel Larsen]

Maybe this needs to be moved to the Wood Working section??

[anglesmith]

These can also be used on metal, mainly on brass fittings.
Graeme

[Billman49]

Called thread chasers in the UK, they were used mainly on metal, before the days of screwcutting lathes - excellent on brass, but would also cut steel, wood (e.g. boxwood), ivory, bone and even early plastics.. My set came from my uncle (born 1888) he used them through the 1920's to 1950's for making all sorts of tools and models on his treadle powered metal cutting lathe...

[rusty]

P&W - Pratt & Whitney (not the aircraft company, the other one)
(Also seen with the entire company name stamped on them)

Very nice :)

Now you can make your own wood clamps ....

[Provincial]

Pratt & Whitney machine tools was the founder of the aircraft engine company.  The US Navy was dissatisfied with the Wright company management and sought to pursue an alternative design that Wright refused to consider.  They convinced Pratt & Whitney (machine tool company) to start an aircraft engine division, which was quickly spun off.

Pratt & Whitney tools are great stuff!  I've never seen a machine tool or tooling from P&W that wasn't top notch.  I think that was why the Navy recruited them.

[oldtools]

We used those Thread Chasers at Pearl Harbor Shipyard to hand clean & chase damaged threads, they work great to prevent binding & galling.

[clovis]

Wow...those are cool!!!!