A Black Friday Steampunk Whatsis
In the general population, I’d guess that the number of people who have any idea what this thing is is on the order of one in a few million.
Bloggers being a geekier lot than ordinary people, there’s a higher liklihood that one will know, but I will be impressed. You have to be a certain type of geek to have ever even seen one of these, let alone used one.
it comes in a nicely fitted leatherette box, and includes rosewood, teak, ivory, and nickel, in addition to hardened carbon steel, and some early Chrome plate.
You can click to embiggenate and the picture will sharpen up some.
Update: Since John had to show off and figure it out the first day, here’s a couple pictures of the item unfolded and ready to use.
22 comments Og | Uncategorized
I’m guessing it is not a device used to ensure fine focus for a camera.
Painfully, I only have the crappy cellphone camera at present. I changed it to the original rather than the strange thumbnail.
The top resembles a micrometer but the bottom has me cornfuzed.
Is it a balance scale for weighing gun powder?
If you’re needing to feed your “Whatziss” jones……
…the Neanderpundit has just the eye-candy you’re looking for. I’m stumped….
I’m guessing (heavy on the guessing)some sort of old medical measuring device. But what exactly,?.
I’ve no hands on experience, but it looks familiar. Portions of a surveyor’s transom level?
An amputation kit?
Here’s one riffing off of Jack – craniometer?
Gottit(I think). A Coffin Planimeter.
Maybe for someone whose cranium was flat.
INdeed, John. Only someone posessed of your bizzare skilz would have a clue. I am impressed.
And I apologize. I shoulda just sent it to you in email. I *koff* know how disappointing it is to the host when some smartass tags in early!
Hmmm, I should have guessed that. We used them in forestry school. But ours were a simpler design.
I knew it was some kind of measuring device but couldn’t figure out exactly what. The world is full of amazing tools. Thanks for showing us this not-quite-an-everyday device, Og.
Jenny
“The world is full of amazing tools”
Boy, if i had a dollar for every time I heard that.
Just in case you didn’t happen to know WTF a Coffin Planimeter is used for, here’s everything you need to know about them.
Og: in PxO, I’d wager the locomotive computer could give this info in real time… :D
yeah, Dave Green is the go-to Planimeter guy. PLanimeters are still being made, but they’re digital now. There are still times you need to use them. Why I keep mine.
EVERY YEAR I ask for a bone saw for Christmas. Does anyone listen? No.
Vman: I have an old (1800’s vintage) nickel plated surgeons bone saw, and a 24″ butcher’s bonesaw.
Yes, they are as much fun as you’d suspect they are.
Vman- I know several blacksmiths that can make you a really old school one custom….
That, my lad, unless I miss my guess, is an “integrator”. It is used for determining the area of an irregularly-shaped object. I can’t see clearly but I’m betting that the wheel and the pointer move as the right-hand indexer is moved around on the platen. I have a brass one somewhere around here for use on maps. The arm length and thus, the scale is adjustable. In principle, it does analog integration, just the same way as the odometer on your car.
or, I could just be wrong.
Russ