Unknown Vintage Contraption: We found this vintage contraption in an antique store. They had no idea what it was. We thought it was interesting, so we bought it. It was froze up. I...

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

We found this vintage contraption in an antique store. They had no idea what it was. We thought it was interesting, so we bought it. It was froze up. I sprayed it with 'Blaster Penetrating Oil' and the next day everything had freed up but that didn't help in figuring what it was used for or part of.

Anybody know, or have a guess what it was used for or part of?

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Laramie Loc: Tempe

A bender, perhaps?

Iron Sight Loc: Utah

??? If it was mine I would keep it!

rit z Loc: Upstate New York

RainierView wrote:

We found this vintage contraption in an antique store. They had no idea what it was. We thought it was interesting, so we bought it. It was froze up. I sprayed it with 'Blaster Penetrating Oil' and the next day everything had freed up but that didn't help in figuring what it was used for or part of.

Anybody know, or have a guess what it was used for or part of?

I think you found George Costanza’s Johnson rod.

george19

Door closing damper?

Is there a patent or design number on it you can search?

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

RainierView wrote:

We found this vintage contraption in an antique store. They had no idea what it was. We thought it was interesting, so we bought it. It was froze up. I sprayed it with 'Blaster Penetrating Oil' and the next day everything had freed up but that didn't help in figuring what it was used for or part of.

Anybody know, or have a guess what it was used for or part of?

Looks as though it could be some sort of gearbox, though there are a lot of external miscellaneous parts. It does appear to have a shift lever! You need to take it apart to see the internal mechanism. Let us know what you find out.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

???

Grump's Photos Loc: Dunedin FL

My first thought was some sort of early “come-a-long”.
Andy

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

Laramie wrote:

A bender, perhaps?

Thanks, but if it was it would be for bending something small.

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

Iron Sight wrote:

??? If it was mine I would keep it!

Oh yes, we're keeping it even if we never find out what it is.

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

rit z wrote:

I think you found George Costanza’s Johnson rod.

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

george19 wrote:

Door closing damper?

Is there a patent or design number on it you can search?

No numbers or markings, that I found.

mikee

Might be the original "wha-tcha-ma-call-it".

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

rlv567 wrote:

Looks as though it could be some sort of gearbox, though there are a lot of external miscellaneous parts. It does appear to have a shift lever! You need to take it apart to see the internal mechanism. Let us know what you find out.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

Some of those levers seem to be for blocking rotation, but still too frozen for it to rotate and the bolts are too frozen to turn. I'll soak it more to see if anything loosens up. If I get it apart, I'll post photos.

I'm sure where you live is beautiful.

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

Grump's Photos wrote:

My first thought was some sort of early “come-a-long”.
Andy

The threaded hole might be where it was mounted on something. I thought that channel might be for a cable, but where would the cable go?