Hot Rods Help identifying this distributor part

My friend gave me this distributor part today. It looks like it mounts on the base of a distributor to set the timing. I have seen these on order cars, but I can’t quite figure out how this is installed on the distributor since there is no keyway or pin to hold it in place. Also, I would be interested in knowing What kind of car it came from.
Thanks, Dave

 

Looks like a spark plug gapping tool. Is the edge where the numbers are tapered?

 

I'd say that it is a tool rather than a part. Made to set in a specific distributor to check or set the advance.

 

There is no taper on the edge. I don’t think that this is a tool. It looks more like a
Distributor part.

 

The center hole is only like 1/2 inch, so that will narrow it down quite a lot.

The curved slot is for the lock down feature, and since it has a zero with a 15 before and after, it's definitely timing and not a plug gapping tool.

Possibly mounts inside the cap, where the shaft is bare instead of around the shaft housing?

 

[

Possibly mounts inside the cap, where the shaft is bare instead of around the shaft housing?

-rick[/QUOTE]

whether it mounts at the base of the distributor or in the cap, I still think that it needs to be keyed or pinned in place otherwise it would just float around having no meaning.

 

I would say like others
Deg of setting advancement / tool

 

Could have gone on the steering column from something in the '20's or '30's. Can't imagine 75 degrees advance though.

 

Was about to mention that as well.
Can’t be for gapping, the #’s appear to be outwards, not recessed.
75 degrees?
May not even be for a distributor.
What’s it for, not a clue

 

NOT a gapper.
Exact use I can't help you with, but could bolt up similar to /6 dist. plates.

 

I am beginning to think that this is a tool rather than a car part. I can’t think of a reason to have numbers on both sides if it is a distributor or car part. ?????

 

Looks like the miter scale on a Skil saw. Usually they will only go 15 or so degrees one way and a larger amount in the opposite direction. Most are retained by a wingnut with a pointer to measure the angle of the cut.

 

Brandol956 is right - zero to seventyfive degrees sounds like something that is only useful when measured up to ninety degrees..

Any chance this is an elevation gauge from something that points skyward - artillery, construction/surveying gauge?

Cheers,
Harv

 

Thank you for all of your replies. I still have not figured this little part out yet.

 

whether it mounts at the base of the distributor or in the cap, I still think that it needs to be keyed or pinned in place otherwise it would just float around having no meaning.[/QUOTE]


I think the wings at 9 and 3 oclock must locate against the mating part to keep it from floating around. I'm starting to lean towards the other guys talking about saw miter degree scales.

-rick

 

Anyone notice one side is 0-90 degrees and other side is -15-75 degrees.

 

I did not notice that until you pointed that out. Non-auto related is starting to make more sense

 

Agreed, especially if used as a transit/sextant. Set up the 90 side with a level, use the other side to find angle.

 

Looks like it's made of brass or bronze which gives it the appearance of some sort of nautical or navigational usage. Being non-magnetic may have allowed it to be used around compasses or other sensitive sensors or gauges.

 

Its a vintage radio dial. Not distributor or engine related.

 

Hmmm . . . Directional radio antenna?

 

Whatever it is, the wear implies it has seen a lot of use, one way or another.

 

I'm with the not distrutor related camp.

It's for reading angles not engine degrees is what I'm betting on myself...

...

 

Whatever it is, it must be very obscure. A bunch of very seasoned guys have looked at this thing and no one has identified it yet. I sure don’t have a clue. Yet..

 

Could be degrees of temperature instead of degrees of angle?

 

The last post is as close as I have seen, but still not the same part.

 

Post 20. Its a "vintage radio dial". Hit the Google for a bit and you'll find very similar components.
https://picclick.com/RARE-Vintage-FRESHMAN-TUBE-RADIO-BRASS-DIAL-FACEPLATE-266728599029.html

 

wouldn't make much sense to go 'up' and then 'down' on a radio--would just be linear