Quote from: pliskin on May 24, 2013, 06:41:57 PM
I don't see any "silver bit" in the bottom pic. But I'll make a guess. Is it a wind up timer?

S L I ver .. Not S I L ver .... The little extra fine metal strip that runs across the inside of lower half.... When this thing was new I assume it would have hugged the curve ... But it's been accidentally or deliberately bent so it don't hug...

Oh and no not a timer

Part of a fishing reel

Part of a measurement device? like inside guts of a tape measure?

Not a fishing reel ......

However ..

Quote from: Kiwingenuity on May 24, 2013, 08:46:21 PM
Part of a measurement device? like inside guts of a tape measure?

That's close enough for me ... Because it isn't part of .... That's what it is! .... 

It's sort of a different approach to the whole retracting tape measure ... You pull up the end (the s l i ver/ strip of metal bit) which then angles up and out under the cross bar bit ... Instead of a spring which tightens as you pull the tape out .. The tape is the spring ... It holds itself tight against the containing wall.... But spools up for small size and not getting broken ... It's not auto retract , you hold the cross bar and spin the drum to extend or retract the steel tape .. But it doesn't slip and go bzzzzzshshshshshshshspppppp back into the case when you don't want it to ... You wind out how much you want and measure against it..... Then you wind it back in .. 

I have no idea where/who designed it... I just found it in a box....

I'll do a 30 -60 second video on its operation during the week at the office.... In case anyone looks at me trying to describe it and goes 

You up KIWI!!... Chur!

Well, I havent seen one myself, be good to see a video. 

Umm, will post something in the morning - need to rummage in the shed during daylight..

Found this - and it is also pretty low tech / old (and not a Whistle)

Antique brass cocaine snorter? 

part of a watch fob?

well it is antique - but neither of those guesses are close enough.. will wait an hour or so and give you a good clue.

Is it a pipe tobacco packer?

Awesome guess, but no - sorry. It is shown in the retracted position, device extends about 20mm from the small end.

Lets bump this..

Item is hand tool - extremely common in a slightly different form.

Well, little bit windy this morning on the ride in - "fresh" is what our met service calls it - 33 gusting to 55 kph. Just checked the forcast, gales and hail tomorrow.. goooooody.

Another clue - what can you never seem to find when you need one?

So heres another photo - item in its extended form


and non extended form


Just an eleborate version of something you find at home and office.

i am going to guess a pencil?

Quote from: oldmech on May 26, 2013, 04:40:45 PM
i am going to guess a pencil?

It is - very robust "mechanical" pencil. probably at least 70 years old.

Your up 

give me a chance to get a pic of something obscure it work.  will post something in the pm when i get home usa time. hope fall is treating you well kiwi. late spring here and it is still cold, 42 degrees f one the ride to work this am. and wind also.

just noticed something... at home on the ipad.... the picture of the brass pencil and the ruler.... the pencil is on the left... and pointing upwards ... but here at work on the laptop... its facing downwards and on the right...  ... weird!!

Quote from: oldmech on May 26, 2013, 05:24:09 PM
hope fall is treating you well kiwi. late spring here and it is still cold, 42 degrees f one the ride to work this am. and wind also.

I think winter is arriving tomorrow - forcast issued at lunchtime here: "Showers, hail, hill snow evening. South gust 110 km/h. High of 6 degrees C"
Not that I can complain really, had an amazing summer, mild autumn.  I think you may know how bad the wind can get here when you run around on two wheels..

here is the next one. looks high techy but it is really 20 year old technology.

Well it looks like an expensive servo motor of some sort with that 19 point MIL connector. No idea of function - flap control for an aircraft?

Looks like a winch?
Possibly fitted to steering?