Where was this used or for what (Page 2): Some dimensions reference would help, and I go for casting mould...

Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca

Some dimensions reference would help, and I go for casting mould

TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

SpikeW wrote:

I came across this wooden gear in a neighbors barn. I asked him what it was and he didn't know. He asked if I would like to have it and of course I said yes as I though I could do something with it. Do any of the UHH people have any ides what this might have been used for.

It's a wooden pattern for sand casting. The black part at the top is used as a gripping area for final machining after the casting is complete. The black part indicates that it won't be there after final machining.
You might want to examine it closely and look for an identifying number on it somewhere.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

Looks like small bird poop on top of the hub and down a front cog. This should give you all a size to go by. I go with a casting pattern.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Spike, I'm in the casting crowd. It looks very much like a casting pattern.
--Bob

SpikeW wrote:

I came across this wooden gear in a neighbors barn. I asked him what it was and he didn't know. He asked if I would like to have it and of course I said yes as I though I could do something with it. Do any of the UHH people have any ides what this might have been used for.

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

Definitely a casting die, they were usually made with a type of hardwood

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

SpikeW wrote:

I came across this wooden gear in a neighbors barn. I asked him what it was and he didn't know. He asked if I would like to have it and of course I said yes as I though I could do something with it. Do any of the UHH people have any ides what this might have been used for.

The gear looks to be in too good shape to come from a water wheel, or mill wheel, so my guess would also be a die for casting.

TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

SpikeW wrote:

I came across this wooden gear in a neighbors barn. I asked him what it was and he didn't know. He asked if I would like to have it and of course I said yes as I though I could do something with it. Do any of the UHH people have any ides what this might have been used for.

As a person who worked for a steel company's engineering department, one of my responsibilities was maintaining the location and storage of all the patterns that were used for the steel mill equipment. We literally had over a thousand patterns in storage. Some were used infrequently and ones that were used often, the foundry would keep for us. I also had a relationship to a patternmaker for any new patterns we may have needed. He was a highly skilled and knowledgeable person. He could do anything with a pattern. Patternmakers are extremely rare nowadays. I don't know what they do for patterns anymore.
Those patterns were beautiful and skillfully made. Worth whatever he would charge for them and you'd never meet a nicer person. His name was Alby Clark.

cucharared Loc: Texas, Colorado

Definitely a gear pattern used in a casting foundry. Even appears to have a little casting sand residue in spots.

ron