Re: What is it? CXXIV

[Bill Marrs]

721 Valve lapping tool for engines.

722 Fuel checker for a Cessna. Push it into a fitting on the fuel tank sump to drain a bit of fuel so you can look for contaminants.

[Smaug Ichorfang]

725 is missing foam rubber pads under each of the metal "buttons". I know *exactly* what this is, it's a clamp to hold your nostrils closed.

[Carla Fong]

723: Travelers portable security lock for motel/hotel doors.

The tab on the large flat piece goes into the door frame latch and the pin (it's spring loaded) then goes into the appropriate hole in the serrated groove to hold the door closed.

725: Adjustable nipple clamp - it's missing the rubber pads. Usually seen in pairs. Don't ask me how I know.

Carla

[Leo Lichtman]

725 has had several plausible answers, but not the one I think I remember--hanging up film to dry. (and, yes, I agree that it originally had rubber jaws.)

[R.H.]

This clamp is much too tight to be used on any part of the body, it would cause serious damage. You're probably thinking of a clover clamp, they have a spring and aren't as strong.

Rob

[R.H.]

Forgot to mention thanks to everyone who clued me in about number 725, I thought it was some type of clamp but didn't know it was missing the rubber pieces.

Rob

[Smaug Ichorfang]

"R.H." wrote in news:0G9wg.35224$ [e-mail]:

I see now that it would be too tight. It is very similar in design/shape to a nasal clamp. I'm claiming half-credit for the missing sponge bit. What's a clover clamp?

[Smaug Ichorfang]

Smaug Ichorfang wrote in news:Xns9807D25DA9259goblineater@207.115.17.102:

Clover clamp -

mind....

[Rich Grise]

I've seen those film tongs, but never with that locking lever. I was thinking, "pocket grommet squasher", but that's kind of silly - then whoever came up with "nipple ring (without the rubber pads)" kinda struck me, but in reality I think it's just some kind of generic clamp that a bunch of people found useful for various things, and so, since they were selling, they made more. :-)

Cheers! Rich

[Bart Byers]

I think it was adapted for a USAAF use in WWII. I think the Air Force bought them, had them engraved to discourage theft for household purposes, then issued them in large numbers.

I wonder how oxygen was distributed in a bomber. If a line were torn, everybody dependent on that tank could soon pass out unless a crewman had a locking clamp in his pocket.

It may have been issued to ground crews to pinch a tube during maintenance.