What Is This??

[Dave Arnett]

I sent it here  http://www.northhouse.org/ 

They had no idea either.

Still diggin' though.

[Aunt Phil]

You can buy yourself a 580 Case tractorhoe, it's still a clamping device for holding rings while they are being buffed or worked on.

BTW, mortise & tenon are line drilled in place, and a peg larger than the hole is driven in.   

[Dave Arnett]

"...it's still a clamping device for holding rings while they are being buffed or worked on.

Is there some way to substantiate that?

I'm not going to the museum and telling them, "It's a clamping device for holding napkin rings while they are being buffed or worked on. I know this for a fact because 'cause Aunt Phil told me so."

They're gonna want more than that.

[Aunt Phil]

"...it's still a clamping device for holding rings while they are being buffed or worked on.

Is there some way to substantiate that?

I'm not going to the museum and telling them, "It's a clamping device for holding napkin rings while they are being buffed or worked on. I know this for a fact because 'cause Aunt Phil told me so."

They're gonna want more than that.

Gee Dave, had you only mentioned Museum to begin with, I would have told you it's a time honored  well known device for expanding the discharge port on Curators & members of museum exhibit comitys.  My experience over a number of years with those vaunted people tells me they all know everything and need expansion to prevent fissures when they expound and enlighten with misinformation.

The model in your picture predates the exploding wedge unit that killed a lot of comity members which has been replaced currently with a hydraulic device from Enerpac.

[Dave Arnett]

STILL DIGGING

[Billman49]

BTW, mortise & tenon are line drilled in place, and a peg larger than the hole is driven in.

Mortice drilled through, tenon marked and hole drilled closer to shoulder so when drawbore pin, or dowel, is driven in it pulls joint tight and pre-tensions it. In Europe dowels are usually hand cut and tapered to a dull point... Yes body of dowel can be slightly larger than the hole, but it needs the point to get it through three holes, only two of which are in line.... Most dowels are hand cut, so tend to be polyagonal, not round - they bite into the wood, and as both hole and dowel are compressed slightly they do not come loose..

Images from: http://portugalpermaculture.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/sills.html

[amertrac]

It's probably going end up as part of a childs homemade toy LOL   BOB W.

[Branson]

Mortice drilled through, tenon marked and hole drilled closer to shoulder so when drawbore pin, or dowel, is driven in it pulls joint tight and pre-tensions it. In Europe dowels are usually hand cut and tapered to a dull point... Yes body of dowel can be slightly larger than the hole, but it needs the point to get it through three holes, only two of which are in line.... Most dowels are hand cut, so tend to be polyagonal, not round - they bite into the wood, and as both hole and dowel are compressed slightly they do not come loose..

Yes, just so.  Some are even left square at the outside end of the pin.   You can see the point of the points in a lot of old barn construction.  The big ones used in timber framing are called trunnels (tree-nails).  In furniture, the  shoulders of the tenons are frequently undercut to make a knife-edge joint.  In old window sash, the pins are usually polygonal.  Better gripping that way.

[Dave Arnett]

Thanks for the constructive feed back, Gentlemen.

At this point, I'll research almost any suggestion.

The curator of the museum (a very knowledgeable, well respected gentleman) suggested that the small end may be worn smooth because it's the handle, rather than the working end. I'm not sure if I'm buying that or not, but.........who knows?

It's probably going end up as part of a childs homemade toy LOL   BOB W.

I hope not, but that could very well be the case, Bob.



STILL DIGGIN'

[Dave Arnett]

I just got this...

I think that this is a wedge that was used in rope beds to roll the tension at one end of the bed before the weaving took place of the crossings that were directed through the sides and ends of the bed. When this peg was in place in the hole with the line tied around it, the wedge was driven in and, because they did not want the peg to split, they put the iron ring on the peg top. I am not certain however.

Watcha think?

[Papaw]

Makes sense to me.

[Dave Arnett]

Just got this from a "rope bed guy"....

Hi Dave,

Sorry, I have never seen one of these.  Sounds like it over complicates what simply a knot would do.
Good luck in your search!

Mark
Weaving Haus Antiques

Back to diggin'!

[Aunt Phil]

Send $1000 honorarium to Distinguished Professor Philippe DeBlanc Endowment Fund and the Prof will write you a short book on the ring holder, why it's built with a wedge instead of a screw, and how it's used.

I'll even include a picture of a shovel, and instructions on how to employ the ring holder to expand a curators information portal.

[Dave Arnett]

Send $1000 honorarium to Distinguished Professor Philippe DeBlanc Endowment Fund and the Prof will write you a short book on the ring holder, why it's built with a wedge instead of a screw, and how it's used.

I'll even include a picture of a shovel, and instructions on how to employ the ring holder to expand a curators information portal.

I haven't been here long, but (with all due respect) I have been here long enough to learn you're the kinda guy that "I'd like to buy for what you're worth, then sell you for what you think you're worth." ;)

[rusty]

Snicker ;P

Still, I am leaning towards Phil's idea it is a holder for polishing....

It resembles several other things I have seen for similar purposes, unfortunatly, the jewelry and silver trade practiced secrecy to the point of paranoia, and there is very little good documentation on methods and tools :(