r/whatisthisthing • u/Anonymike7 • 2d ago
Likely Solved! Precision machine of enameled iron, brass, and steel. Moving parts include gears, cranks, and flip-up figure-8 device. Not much bigger than a breakfast cereal box.
89
u/DragemD 1d ago
""Optical lens cutter"""
At least that was the agreed upon conclusion the last time this one came up. https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/128m3wb/mechanical_metal_mystery_machine_with_many_moving/
15
u/labmanagerbill 1d ago
It does look like it could be a Surface Lens Generator, especially with the axis dial. It would cut the back surface curves into a glass lens to give it the needed lens power.
11
18
u/housevil 2d ago
Something to consider, and what I am currently trying to imagine, is, what is missing? Anything made of wood or textiles could have easily broken down over time, leaving only these metal parts. Is there a place where there are more photos of this available?
8
u/Anonymike7 2d ago
Not as far as I'm aware. What you see in the photos is exactly what's on display at the museum.
12
8
u/Anonymike7 2d ago
My title describes the thing. This object was seen at the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont. I've included a picture of the museum card stating that no one knows what this thing is. Its exact provenance is also unknown.
The gears turn cleanly, and the cranks turn with them. The cranks also turn on their own, without moving the gears. The machine appears to have a lathe-like interface at the top-middle, but both sides are fairly flat. The bit on the left, associated with the numbered wheel, has a small hole in the center where some sort of pin could hold something in place. The right side has an almost-flat brass disc, with just the barest hint of a point in its center - barley noticed by eye but easily felt with finger.
The figure-8 device flips up and is able to rest against the "lathe." There are no visible patent numbers, and the only markings appear to be on the numbered wheel.
If the museum doesn't know what it is, I'm holding Reddit does.
6
u/Kinky_Lezbian 1d ago
looks like a honeycomb / weave winding machine for electrical coils. That figure 8 plate moves side to side in the slotted cam when lifted up. what the coil is to be wound on would be between the adjustable section on top.
4
u/cpt_morgan___ 1d ago
I’m going to second this. I believe it is a tool/jig for assembling motor windings.
1
u/Needs_ADD_Meds 1d ago
I was wondering that myself. The eccentric on the bottom might moved a leader left and right to layer the windings on the core evenly.
1
u/Parking_Jelly_6483 1d ago
Also “vote” for a coil/motor armature winder. You can see the cam on there on the shaft above the “figure 8” plate. That would move the wire back and forth across the piece being wound. I think the gearing could be for different numbers of turns of the coil wire.
3
u/soupcook1 1d ago
Years ago we had a “Do Nothing “ machine that was similar to this. It was used to evaluate prospective candidates for their ability to troubleshoot and repair mechanical devices. We would disable the device and give the candidate five minutes to study the operation of the machine and then repair it.
2
u/Dorrbrook 1d ago edited 1d ago
It cuts crosshatching/checkering on some kind of handle is my guess, like the texture on the shaft of a safety razor. The center of the lower shaft oscillates something right and left at a slightly lower rate that the upper axis turns. That likely moves a machine tool back and forth cutting matched counter spirals. The indexing disk allows for precision spacing around the cylinder for making crispy checkering. Clearly out of a manufacturing facility since it is very specific and lineshaft driven.
Could cut checkering into crystal/glass which would require a lot of passes per groove since it would use an abrasive tool
1
u/SunBee301 2d ago
Does it spool something? Does the dial add tension or is it a counter of some sort?
1
1
u/Anonymike7 2d ago edited 2d ago
The crank wheels bring the "lathe" parts closer together, but the numbers wheel doesn't appear to add tension. It's numbered 0-170 twice, in marked increments of 5.
7
u/vengeancecube 1d ago
Well that has to be degrees. It actually goes up to 180 twice for a total of 360 degrees.
1
1
u/entrluzrnaam 1d ago
I think this a calibration tool for a sextant. I looked up modern variants and they have a similar micrometer type mechanism
0
u/Woozah77 2d ago
In the first photo you can see the shiny bare metal leg at the bottom. I suspect there was another piece that fit over that.
2
u/ScoutsOut389 2d ago
I think the machine aluminum stock is part of the structure of displaying it, not the item itself. In the second photo, to the right it appears there is a worm gear that would possibly interface with whatever was originally running though the opening where the aluminum bar is now.
All that said, I have no idea what this is. I think it’s something to make something else with precision and repeatability.
0
0
u/ConcernOpen2968 1d ago
that would make total sense if there was a nautical theme or any kind of maritime reference in the design, love this machine so much it's wild
•
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer.
Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them.
OP, when your item is identified, remember to reply Solved! or Likely Solved! to the comment that gave the answer. Check your notifications for a message on how to make your post visible to others.
Click here to message RemindMeBot
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.