Re: What is it? CXX

[Leo Lichtman]

"Voltes34" wrote: It's more like 63.5 ! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian's screen may have a little parallax.

So, my guess is it's an up-side-down barometer.

[Matthew Russotto]

696: A weapon, intended not to look like one.

697: A model of the human heart held together with baling wire and string.

[Matthew Russotto]

If it were a stamp, wouldn't the numbers be backwards?

[Nick Müller]

That's what they are.

Nick

[Paul K. Dickman]

It's the vernier on an analytical balance. The gold chain hanging off the edge is a dead give-away. Paul K. Dickman

[DoN. Nichols]

According to Matthew Russotto :

They *are*. The stamps are on the ends of the arms. What is cast into the hub's front (and probably the back as well) is a *label* to tell you which arm to use. I do find it unusual that the labels are oriented so the active arm will be pointing *up*, suggesting either that the device is intended for stamping numbers in the underside of something, or that the (supposed) labels on the handle side of the hub may be more usefully oriented.

Enjoy, DoN.

[R.H.]

Thanks for the info, I knew the general use of it but not the details.

Rob

[R.H.]

What about the slots on the back end, I was hoping someone would know what they are for. A friend of mine suggested that they could be used to straighten fins on old radiators.

Rob

[spamTHISbrp]

I think the fuel-caps he has in mind have 1 large (or 2 smaller) tabs sticking up that would go into the slots.

Dave

[DoN. Nichols]

According to R.H. :

As I suggested earlier -- fuel caps with a bent up rib intended to be gripped by the hand, but sometimes requiring more torque than is comfortable without a handle like #696.

I seem to even remember seeing radiator caps with a similar rib as a handle.

The screwdriver end would handle one style of Dzus fasteners, and the semi-circular projection when the screwdriver blade is folded would handle the other common style.

So I think that the identification as "preflight tool" is probably right. It accounts for all of the features that I noticed.

Enjoy, DoN.

[Norman D. Crow]

You're welcome.

[Dale Scroggins]

As you say, many older aircraft had simple caps like radiator caps, with metal angles welded to the top. One leg of the angle provided a grip for opening the cap, and also gave visual indication that the cap was fully locked closed. If the cap was streamlined, it was closed. If not, it wasn't. The tool is a bit oversize for the small caps, but works well on them. Some aircraft had much larger caps, 4"-5" across, with a hinged tab on top. They were generally covered by an access door. They were harder to open and close, so the tool really helped. Dzus fasteners came in several head styles; common slotted, coin slotted (two different sizes here, thus the two rounded bits on the tool) and wings, like a wing nut. The slots on the back were useful for opening the wing-type fasteners if they were balky. Dzus fasteners were often balky. Many small aircraft, older ones especially, have small trim tabs riveted to the trailing edges of various control surfaces. If bent correctly, these tabs will allow for straight and level flight hands-off. The slot in the back is also handy for tweaking those tabs.

[R.H.]

That makes sense, thanks to all who replied to my question.

Rob