Featured Hot Rods Anyone know what this tool is for?

need more pics. the underside, how far does the bottom part swivel, how big is it?

I think it is some sort of wire bendy thingamajig. maybe it makes paper clips.

the best way to find out what it is would be to throw it out. then you would find out it is something you needed.

 

There are such things as “flat top” carriage bolts

 

I have no idea what the heck that thing is, but I would love to have two just like it!!

 

It’s an Olelenna door hinge produced from 1893 until 1951. The square holes are indeed for carriage bolts.
Oh,I might be full of it.
Dan
What ever it is it’s indeed interesting.

 

you might be on to something

 

My first thought was the square holes were for a breaker bar. What size are the holes? Don't know why there would be 2 though.

 

I built elevators for 5 years and never heard of or saw an elevator bolt.

 

Looks to be in the same family to me. Les' see : thin, flat head : check. square under the head : check. remainder full thread : check. So the head diameter and length vary; so does the thread size.

 

Similar, but different. They might both be designed for something to pass by, without hitting the head of the bolt.

 

I guess it could do something like this

 

Gotta hand it to @swade41 , that is a clever way to make chain links.
So I guess the unit in question, that @Fortunateson posted, has the potential to be a portable chain link bender?
I still think there is ample room for more answers as to what it really is, but for now, this will have to do, till its accurately identified!
Thanks from Dennis.

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What it is, is 3 cents a pound at the local scrap yard.

 

If they have a flat top they're " elevator bolts"...

 

Were you building grain elevators or conveyer elevators ?

 

people elevators

 

@49ratfink
One of my favorite little reference books in my library.

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That's why you didn't see any elevator bolts

 

They could be for different dies...or as Dennis mentioned, fastening holes for a larger apparatus...I thought it could make loops in metal strap...

 

Here's an "out there" suggestion. Can you just tell us roughly how long it is...???

 

I was at the dealership for lug nut’s once. Part’s guy ask me “what do your nuts look like?” “”

 

The phrasing did cross my mind as I was typing the question, but I decided to just forge on regardless......

 

https://buckeyefasteners.com/screws/carriage-bolts/

and

https://www.valuefastener.com/carriage-bolts/square-neck-flat-head

 

Here are a couple of pics… the only number is on the back which is 100 and the gap is approximately 1/4” between those two rectangular bits on the front.

 

I stick with my chain link making tool, 1/4" links bent then heated and cooled to harden them....

....but just a WAG...

.....

 

So the plot thickens so to speak. The pictures are a tiny bit more helpful, but only to a certain degree, yet to be determined.

So far no one has said anything about the cylindrical piece of metal lodged into the square hole, and it may mean nothing at all.

So a few more questions to ponder. Is the piece with the two square holes, seized to the handle, or does it now move freely both ways on the bolt spindle?

I would like to see a few more pictures of it from different angles, that are more well lighted and not
fuzzy/unfocused. ( Please)
The length and the shape of the handle is still a puzzle to me.

There is a reason why pipe wrench handles are designed differently from ratchet wrench handles, same as with torque wrench handles.

The design of this handle, really doesn't look like what I would expect a handle for this tool to look like.

That central spline that runs runs the length of the handle, seems deliberate, but was it really to add strength to the handle?

The age of this piece that was given to @Fortunateson appears to be old as in something that was produced say in the 1920's or older, its definitely not from the 50's, but that is just my opinion/guess.

It appears to be of forged steel, I am guessing forged steel. Purely from the over all looks of it, it might also be a tool, that was once the possession of a blacksmith.
That being said, the fact that it can and possibly was used to make chain links, well the mystery still continues.
Thanks from Dennis.

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I’m still sticking to my story. It being a stationary mounted bender vs a hand held one.

 

Well I'll try for some more pics I suppose.... You all seem to think I'll be working on a "chain gang"...!

 

Now you know what to give the guy that has everything!

 

Used for leveling tables, jigs or anything that need to be stabilized. I used one as a throttle stop

 

My simple-minded guess is that it is a bending tool for blacksmiths. Fasten to the bench with carriage bolts and bend "strap iron" to requirements, hot or cold, deepening on thickness. Blacksmiths were common in some rural communities into the '60's and were called upon to make all sorts of brackets, braces, etc. I visited our local guy a few times when I was kid, and it was amazing to watch him work his magic. Most of those guys were true craftsmen with imaginative solutions to many problems.