What is it? Set 507

[Rob H.]

I need some help with number 2954 in this week's set:

Rob

[Alexander Thesoso]

[Alexander Thesoso]

2956 Let me make a wild guess here. This is a chainwheel from a bicycle, made special by being from the Wright brother's shop.

[Gonadicus]

2956 Front sprocket from a Dayton bicycle

No ideas on any of the others

[Bluey69]

I second the star drills used in mining as well in the early days for boring blasting holes in the stope face.

[Ed Huntress]

2956 - Bicycle chain wheel (front sprocket)

2957 -- Mason's star drills (I still use these things)

[Rob H.]

No trick, I had posted one years ago but someone just sent in these photos and I decided to go ahead post them again.

[Rob H.]

Yes, it's a sprocket from a bicycle but I don't think it's related to the Wright Brothers. I posted it because I hadn't seen one recently and thought it looked interesting.

[Lloyd E. Sponenburgh]

Rob H. fired this volley in news: [e-mail]:

Well... there IS a trick... to using them. One doesn't 'bash' holes in masonry, if using them properly. One 'drills' holes. Neat, clean, and with a minimum of spalling on the back-side, if penetrating.

You don't just hold 'em in place and whack with a hand-sledge. You rotate them slowly while tapping (albiet with a heavy hammer and some authority!).

Lloyd

[Rob H.]

anything but straight line type drive, so my guess it for turning square shank drill bits

Nope, it doesn't use drill bits

You're correct that it's a handle for something.

[lektric dan]

Is 2958 a bird call? Apply a little powdered rosin, put the two parts together, and twist.

[Doug Miller]

lektric dan wrote in news:11a74015-cc05-4c70-8916- [e-mail]:

2956 looks like a bicycle chainwheel. The small hole between the Y and T is to bolt the chainwheel to the crank, and the axle of the crankset passes through the large hole in the center. 2957 is clearly a set of star drills (chisels for drilling holes in concrete or rock).

[Bob La Londe]

-------------------------------------------------- From: "Bluey69" Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 4:30 AM Newsgroups: rec.puzzles,rec.crafts.metalworking,rec.woodworking Subject: Re: What is it? Set 507

Masonry and stone. Funny you should take umbrage with them I have tried a few times to buy some because mine have all gone the way of the dinosaur. The big box hardware stores don't seem to have them, and only the older people working there even know what they are. Maybe in another generation or two nobody will know what they are.

[Lloyd E. Sponenburgh]

"Bob La Londe" fired this volley in news:AdtRt.276112 $ [e-mail]:

You won't find them at the Home DESPOT, but you will at any good concrete yard or full-fledged builder's supply.

Although there are easier ways to make MOST holes, there always comes a time when a star drill is the best tool. It's most aggravating, though, in a vertical 'down' hole. You'll need air or water if you drill that direction.

Lloyd

[Leon Fisk]

I've had good luck finding new "antique tools" through Amazon and affiliates, decent prices too. See:

or for different sizes:

There just doesn't seem to be enough volume on stuff like this for brick and mortar stores to consider stocking them. Try finding a new Brush Scythe, Cross-cut Saw... locally, at any price...

[Bill]

#2954: Notice that each of the numbers 1-6 appears equally often.

Since this (proposed) die has 12 sides, one side would land up.

I offer the "guess" that it simulates the rolling of 3 dice, such as would be used in the gambling game "Chuck-A-Luck"--popular at carnival's and casino's. Basically, in that game, one bets a chip on a number 1-6, and get a chip back for each time the number is rolled (among the 3 dice), and loses their chip if the number is not rolled. Seems fair enough, huh? Itcan be shown thatit's not.

The fact that there are duplicate numbers on every outcome on this die, gives the house a decided advantage in the game. When the outcome of the dice consists of three different numbers, the game is "fair" (no house advantage). Every outcome on this die gives the house the advantage. This fact is not obvious (which is why it's a "sneaky" game).

So, my long-winded guess is that it'sa fancy die! : )

Bill

[whit3rd]

if the crank is a cast/forged item (an Ashtabula crank?) it's just a boss on the casting, not a bolt, that goes through that hole, to drive the wheel (friction on the center hole is NOT going to support the required torque).

[whit3rd]

2953: It looks like something long is being twisted by crank action. The stationary part is probably a handle... maybe a crank for raising/lowering louvers or an awning?

2958: These could be grease applicators. Fill with grease, insert the wood bit to push the grease into the bearing.

[Rob H.]

No luck yet on the wooden piece with numbers, the rest of the answers have been posted here:

I finally figured out my html problem so the answer link should work better than in previous weeks.

Rob

[Bill]

Anyone else believe it might have been a die (I posted yesterday)?