maybe a basket splint shave?
...............................
Gary Roberts
http://toolemera.com
http://toolemerabooks.com

"I'ld rather read a good book, than write a poor one." Christopher Morley




> On May 26, 2015, at 10:41 PM, John M Johnston (jmjhnstn) 
wrote:
> 
> Galoots Assembled,
> 
> 
> 
> An old friend handed me this Whatsit, told me "It's old, it's a tool of some
kind, so I thought of you.  Here, it's yours."   The guys I was camped with
spent a long time studying it and trying to figure it out.  No one had a
definitive answer so I said I would turn to the World's experts in identifying
old tools.
> 
> 
> 
> Side 2 View
> 
> This view shows more of the sheet metal and nail repair to the wood around the
left threaded thumb screw. It also shows a spring arm assembly that appears to
form the bottom of the mouth with a double bevel blade forming the top of the
mouth. The blade faces the spring arm assembly.
> 
> http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/Side2_vi
ew.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/Side2_view.
jpg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Side 1 view
> 
> Side 1 shows the Whatsit in full view. There are metal posts on each side near
the ends. The posts are smooth on their upper half and have symmetrical sets of
rings and grooves on the bottom half. Also shown are two threaded thumb screws
that are threaded into a stout double bevel blade, the back of which is seen in
this view. Also seen is part of a sheet metal and nail repair to the wood around
the left hand thumb screw.
> 
> http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/side1_vi
ew.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/side1_view.
jpg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Top View
> 
> This is looking down on what seems to be the top or show surface of this tool.
The corners are rounded, and a decorative groove is worked along each edge the
length of the tool. In this view, the spring arm assembly can be seen with the
spring screwed to the side and anchored on the right end by a pivot screw. An
unthreaded thumb peg is seen on the other end of the assembly. A steeply sloping
chamfer is cut forming what appears to be the exit as it falls away from the
edge of the blade.
> 
> http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/top_view
.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/top_view.jpg<
/a>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Bottom view
> 
> This appears to be the bottom view as the corners are not rounded and there is
no decorative beading. This view shows the tops of the two threaded thumbscrews
that are threaded into the double bevel blade. The extent of the sheet metal and
nail repair to the wood around the left thumb screw can be seen.
> 
> http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/bottom_v
iew.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/bottom_vie
w.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Spring arm assembly closeup
> 
> Side 2 view shows a spring arm assembly anchored at one end with a wood screw.
It is attached at is other end to one end of a metal bar through which passes a
pivot screw and one end and a thumb peg at the other. The metal bar forms the
bottom of the mouth with a double bevel blade forming the top of the mouth. By
moving the thumb peg, the mouth bar pivots away from the cutting edge of the
blade. The edge of the mouth bar that is closet to the blade's edge is chamfered
the same length as the blade.
> 
> http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/blade_sp
ring_arm_closeup.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/101
64/blade_spring_arm_closeup.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Possible depth adjuster?
> 
> This closeup shows what appears to be an unthreaded thumb screw (peg?) in a
position that would allow it to be used as a depth adjustment for the possible
thickness gauge formed by the spring arm. At present the end of the thumb peg is
level with the underside of the arm in which it is affixed. It does not protrude
and thus is presently not providing support for the spring arm assembly. The
thumb peg is too rusted to move.
> 
> http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10164/Possible
_depth_adjustment.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10
164/Possible_depth_adjustment.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you for your help.
> 
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> John
> 
> 
> 
> John M. Johnston
> 
> jmjhnstn@m...
> 
> "P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried;
therefore I beg you to write and let me know." - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P.
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