OldTools Archive

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263258 Erik Levin 2017‑09‑07 Whatsit tool
I have had this kicking around for a long time. The handle is hard rubber, about
12mm diameter, and the ferrules are silver or pewter. Total length with both
ends installed is about 200mm. The blade is not sharp on the edge, nor does it
appear to ever have been. The edge on the oval end is also not sharp.

Anyone recognize it? (The wood used to prop it is a slug of curley maple from a
tree I helped take down a number of years ago. Really, really nice wood)

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263261 Al Frampton <oldtoolalf@g...> 2017‑09‑07 Re: Whatsit tool
Never seen such a thing per se, but I do have similarly ended devices that are,
I
understand, wax carving tools used by jewellers and such.

Cheers, Alf


On 7 Sep 2017, at 22:14, Erik Levin via OldTools  wrote:

> I have had this kicking around for a long time. The handle is hard rubber,
about 12mm diameter, and the ferrules are silver or pewter. Total length with
both ends installed is about 200mm. The blade is not sharp on the edge, nor does
it appear to ever have been. The edge on the oval end is also not sharp.
> 
> Anyone recognize it? (The wood used to prop it is a slug of curley maple from
a tree I helped take down a number of years ago. Really, really nice wood)

> 
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8fu4yc
263262 curt seeliger <seeligerc@g...> 2017‑09‑07 Re: Whatsit tool
>> https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8fu4yc
> Never seen such a thing per se, but I do have similarly ended devices that
are, I
> understand, wax carving tools used by jewellers and such.

I like Alf's answer better than mine.
263263 Thomas Conroy 2017‑09‑08 Re: Whatsit tool
Erik Levin wrote: "The handle is hard rubber, about12mm diameter, and the
ferrules are silver or pewter. Total length with both ends installed is about
200mm. The blade is not sharp on the edge, nor does it appear to ever have been.
The edge on the oval end is also not sharp. Anyone recognize it?"
Looks a lot like a leather modelling/embossing tool. Not exactly like any I've
seen, but no more different than they are from brand to brand.
https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-pro-modeling-tools

I like Alf's suggestion of wax modelling, except I think that all the wax tools
I've seen were one-piece metal. Or sculptor's clay modelling, perhaps, except
that the clay modelling tools I remember were much larger in their working
faces, and one-piece wood.

Tom ConroyBerkeley
263264 james rich <jameslrich3@g...> 2017‑09‑08 Re: Whatsit tool
I vote for leather modeling tool, although the triangular (spade looking)
end looks a little sharp.​

On Thu, Sep 7, 2017 at 10:38 PM, Thomas Conroy via OldTools <
oldtools@s...> wrote:
263265 james rich <jameslrich3@g...> 2017‑09‑08 Re: Whatsit tool
Whoops, Not sharp​
263267 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2017‑09‑08 Re: Whatsit tool
GG;s


Could it be a dentist's tool to mix silver/mercury amalgam ?


John Ruth

________________________________
From: OldTools  on behalf of james rich

Sent: Friday, September 8, 2017 8:20:47 AM
To: Thomas Conroy
Cc: Old Tools New Server
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Whatsit tool

Whoops, Not sharp​

On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 5:19 AM, james rich  wrote:

> I vote for leather modeling tool, although the triangular (spade looking)
> end looks a little sharp.​
>
> On Thu, Sep 7, 2017 at 10:38 PM, Thomas Conroy via OldTools <
> oldtools@s...> wrote:
>
>> Erik Levin wrote: "The handle is hard rubber, about12mm diameter, and the
>> ferrules are silver or pewter. Total length with both ends installed is
>> about 200mm. The blade is not sharp on the edge, nor does it appear to ever
>> have been. The edge on the oval end is also not sharp. Anyone recognize it?"
>> Looks a lot like a leather modelling/embossing tool. Not exactly like any
>> I've seen, but no more different than they are from brand to brand.
>> https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-pro-modeling-tools
>>
>> I like Alf's suggestion of wax modelling, except I think that all the wax
>> tools I've seen were one-piece metal. Or sculptor's clay modelling,
>> perhaps, except that the clay modelling tools I remember were much larger
>> in their working faces, and one-piece wood.
>>
>> Tom ConroyBerkeley
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
>> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
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>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
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traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.

To change your subscription options:
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OldTools@s...
263268 Kirk Eppler <eppler.kirk@g...> 2017‑09‑08 Re: Whatsit tool
This was my guess.

On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 7:53 AM, John Ruth  wrote:

>
>
> Could it be a dentist's tool to mix silver/mercury amalgam ?
>
>

-- 
Kirk Eppler in HMB, CA
263269 Thomas Conroy 2017‑09‑08 Re: Whatsit tool
John Ruth wrote: "Could it be a dentist's tool to mix silver/mercury amalgam ?"

I think not. A 20th century dentist's tool would have been one-piece steel, to
make sterilization easy. If it were older than that, the rubber would have
shrunk, hardened and cracked.


Tom Conroy
Berkeley
263272 Brent Kinsey <brentpmed@c...> 2017‑09‑08 Re: Whatsit tool
So this is probably way off base but I remember my uncle using a similar tool on
his pipe. The flat rounded slightly bent end he would use to diligently pack the
bowl of his pipe and the other end he would scrape the bowl of his pipe out.

There was as much habit/ritual and fiddling as there was smoking. 

Sent from my iPhone
Brent Kinsey
263273 Erik Levin 2017‑09‑09 Re: Whatsit tool
Informative input to this point. I was hoping for something definitive, and it
may come along.
The things that stand out to me are the hard rubber handle, the pin through the
middle that seems to be intended to keep it from rolling, the blade end not
being sharp, and that the ends are screwed in. I truly have no idea what the
tool was designed for, and several logical things have been suggested, though
none seem to be a dead on match.

Any further input is appreciated, and any definitive identification much
appreciated. I would not be surprised if  it matches one of the things suggested
to this point, but I would really like a solid ID if I can get it.
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263278 Richard Rombold <zwwizard@g...> 2017‑09‑09 Re: Whatsit tool
Check with your dentist. Its a tool (old time) used to work the wax in 
making false teeth


On 9/8/2017 3:35 PM, Brent Kinsey wrote:
> So this is probably way off base but I remember my uncle using a similar tool
on his pipe. The flat rounded slightly bent end he would use to diligently pack
the bowl of his pipe and the other end he would scrape the bowl of his pipe out.
>
> There was as much habit/ritual and fiddling as there was smoking.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> Brent Kinsey
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> https://oldtools.swingleydev.com/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ:
> https://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: https://swingleydev.com/ot/
>
> OldTools@s...

-- 
  
  Richard
   

Richard L. Rombold
WIZARD WOODWORKING
489 N. 32nd. St.
Springfield, Or .97478

  Take a look at my mess and work.
  http://www.PictureTrail.com/gallery/view?username=thewizz

"Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good
with ketchup"
263279 Richard Rombold <zwwizard@g...> 2017‑09‑09 Re: Whatsit tool
Check with your dentist. Its a tool (old time) used to work the wax in 
making false teeth


-- 
  
  Richard
   

Richard L. Rombold
WIZARD WOODWORKING
489 N. 32nd. St.
Springfield, Or .97478

  Take a look at my mess and work.
  http://www.PictureTrail.com/gallery/view?username=thewizz

"Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good
with ketchup"
263300 Erik Levin 2017‑09‑14 Re: Whatsit tool
Richard Rombold said:
>Check with your dentist. Its a tool (old time) used to work the wax in 
>making false teeth A bit of digging in the paper resources (books) supports
this, but with no exact match for the tool. It is in line with several others,
and seems to be an answer.  Thanks all very much for the help.


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