ID-a-gadget

[deepNdirt]

I couldn't find any topic that would fit helping to ID something so I figured being I'm more active here than anywhere else might as well bring it here to you folks for help
The wife was at a antique festival last weekend and brought me back this Gadget thinking I'm smart enough to figure out what it is, she said it was a talk pc and no one there at that festival knew what it was or any idea what to do with it, so she told them she bet her husband could figure it out,
But I could not:confused2:, I have a couple of guesses but wont tell until I here from Y'all. it has a hole through it with a small glass tube much like a level has, although has no liquid inside it, It was also intended to be a manufactured product because there is small letters stating
Pat. APLD. for .. assuming means (Patten Applied for) -> putting a date with it would be good as well,:thumbsup:
Name this Gadget--

 

[winston1]

Not a clue.:confused2:

 

[284 International]

I'm interested to hear other thoughts. I have a guess, but no substantive opinion. What is in the glass tube? A coil of wire? Is it a tiny vacuum tube?

My guess is it is a probe tester of some type, maybe for testing vacuum tubes or use as a galvanometer of some sort? No Bakelite or other plastic, so... 1930s or 40s? A tuner for radios perhaps?

 

[California]

I think its older than that. But your suggestions gave me a couple of ideas:

A battery tester from the Model T era.

Or - a moisture tester, for gardening or possibly firewood.

The double tips are a clue, but to what?

I agree its some kind of testing or measuring device.

 

[284 International]

I agree with you about the battery/moisture theory sounding good. The key seems like the glass bulb. The probe reminds me of a pH meter in the science lab. It almost looks like a turkey thermometer.


Or maybe we are going entirely the wrong way. Poking through a rubber septum for the old glass medication vials, and the side arrow thing holds the bottle? Maybe it opens foil capped....somethings?

I'm certainly ignorant about these things, but most of the very early hand tools I have seen all had oiled wood handles, and were not painted, leading me to suspect later vintage. That is likely wrong,
In retrospect, now that I think about the tool kit that was in the horse-drawn old doctor's buggy as I grew up around the leftovers from the old farm.

 

[Car Doc]

elifino sure isn't the last thing I will not understand though good luck! :laughing: (hole cutter?)

 

[EE_Bota]

It seems to me it may be something to transfer a pattern?

 

[jerrybob]

That is one of the very first proctologist probes invented. Colonoscopies just ain't what they use to be.....thank goodness!

 

[winston1]

I think it must be a thingamajig.

 

[deepNdirt]

well my guess was way off from anything you guy's have guessed
I thought it might been some part of Sun dial device, though I know the time pc, or better known these days as a ( Clock ) date way way back many moons before this thing was made, making my guess incorrect,
to better describe this gadget, the screw you see on the one side is made from brass and the threads are tapered, on the opposite side where you see the spike, the spike is bent in a 90* and turns into the hole directly accross from the brass screw, the screw then is tighten against the bent part of the spike either locking it into place, or to make some sort of contact with it,
the flat thing with the point on it is about the size of a dime and is held into place with very small brades,
Here is another photo to give ya'll an idea of it's size,

 

[California]

Bingo!

It tests the spark from a magneto, or coil. If the screw has to nearly touch the end of the brass rod, the spark is weak. The spark is observed inside the glass tube to make it idiot-proof.

Here's the present day version.

(Source) "Instructions: Plug into coil to measure jump of spark from 0 to 40,000 Volts."

And here's the general idea of how it works.

(Source)

What did I win?

 

[winston1]

Those old timers were sharp cookies. California, so are you. :thumbsup:

 

[deepNdirt]

Makes perfect since:thumbsup: But why with having the sharpened spike point? instead of a blunt end that would insert into the coil etc,etc,
I have several of the light testers that you jab the spike point in through the wires insulated shielding to test for continuity,
Though this device doesn't have a bulb that would light up... a spark inside the glass tube makes good since, the screw can be adjusted not to contact the probe at any increment,
California you have won the ( Old timers Einstein Award )

 

[Car Doc]

Good job California I learn something new on here everyday!