Login | Register
The Engineer's Place for News and Discussion®


What Is It?

What Is It? is a place for engineers to test their knowledge (and sense of humor). Each week the CR4 team will post an unidentified picture. We're looking for your best (or funniest) guesses at what it might be (or could be) in the comments below.
Got an image* that you think would stump the community? Submit the photo to the blog admins and we'll post it!

*No vulgar or obscene photo submissions, please.
Previous in Blog: What Is It? for 5/20/2012   Next in Blog: What Is It? for 6/3/12
Close

Comments Format:






Change Mode
Close

Subscribe to Discussion:

CR4 allows you to "subscribe" to a discussion
so that you can be notified of new comments to
the discussion via email.

Close

Rating Vote:







Add Vote
22 comments
Subscribe Rate this Comments: Nested

What Is It? for 5/27/12

Posted May 27, 2012 12:00 AM
Pathfinder Tags: What is it?

This week's image:

Click here for the answer!

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Comments rated to be Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive ratings to make them "good answers".
SolarEagle
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: at the beach in Florida
Posts: 5441
Good Answers: 266
#1

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 7:53 AM

Elf's hammer for shoeing reindeer....

__________________
The relentless pursuit of pacification....
Reply
lyn
Guru
Hobbies - Automotive Performance - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: 34° 34' 21.60" N, 92° 55' 42.28" W
Posts: 20912
Good Answers: 783
#2

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 9:00 AM

Nail puller.

__________________
Luck comes and goes. Skill is forever. Intelligence either is, or it ain't. lyn
Reply
Kris
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 13174
Good Answers: 83
#3

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 9:13 AM

The notch is for stripping (maybe wire), the handle is for screwing (maybe some kind of bolt). The ball hammer is self-explanatory.

German toffee hammer.

__________________
These nuts may contain traces of post.
Reply
Hendrik
Guru
Popular Science - Biology - New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - New Member Hobbies - CNC - New Member Fans of Old Computers - ZX-81 - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Centurion, South Africa
Posts: 3776
Good Answers: 87
#4

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 10:40 AM

Tool to keep nails upright to save your thumb.

__________________
Never do today what you can put of until tomorrow - Student motto
Reply
Kris
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 13174
Good Answers: 83
#6
In reply to #4

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 10:55 AM

A pice of cardboard works pretty good for that . I learnt this after Mr's K suggested we swap who did the hitting. When I nod my head, you hit it .

__________________
These nuts may contain traces of post.
Reply
Hendrik
Guru
Popular Science - Biology - New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - New Member Hobbies - CNC - New Member Fans of Old Computers - ZX-81 - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Centurion, South Africa
Posts: 3776
Good Answers: 87
#5

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 10:42 AM

A tool to string a piano or a harp.

__________________
Never do today what you can put of until tomorrow - Student motto
Reply
2
redfred
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 6991
Good Answers: 463
#7

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 11:29 AM

This is clearly a well used old tool made by the Tomahawk Mfg. Co of Cleveland O(hio). So the real question then is what did this tool do so well that it was repeatedly used to do this common task.

I believe that this is a crate chisel. This tool was probably used at the shipping dock of a distribution warehouse.

__________________
"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering." Freeman Dyson
Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Go to Next Good Answer
lyn
Guru
Hobbies - Automotive Performance - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: 34° 34' 21.60" N, 92° 55' 42.28" W
Posts: 20912
Good Answers: 783
#8
In reply to #7

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 11:48 AM

Sounds good to me.

__________________
Luck comes and goes. Skill is forever. Intelligence either is, or it ain't. lyn
Reply
Kris
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 13174
Good Answers: 83
#9
In reply to #7

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/27/2012 6:33 PM

That sounds very plausible. I couldn't make out the lettering, though that wouldn't have helped me. If you're correct, is this something particular to America ? It looks like the perfect tool for anybody working with crates, so why not seen outside the USA ?

Whatever the published answer turns out to be, that's a GA. If not used as a crate chisel, it should be. Nice piece of kit, and a good observation about it being well used. Therein lies an interesting question - what is the number one item in anybody's tool box ? Mine is, obviously, a sledgehammer (though it doesn't fit in a box). Decent adjustable wrench, one of those mains-tester neon scredrivers ? Even just a sharp blade or some insulation tape. It's very telliog to peek into somebodies 'carry around' tool kit.

__________________
These nuts may contain traces of post.
Reply
Del the cat
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 15196
Good Answers: 493
#10
In reply to #9

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/28/2012 6:22 AM

Yeah, I've got a telliog in my tool box too... that's what the picture is, right?
Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply
PWSlack
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Indeterminate Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing. Kettle's on.
Posts: 19553
Good Answers: 469
#11
In reply to #10

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/28/2012 8:07 AM

So has PlbMak. How strange...

It sounds like an untapped opportunity for the KrisDel™ corporation!

__________________
There was a time, not long ago, when people were smarter than their phones... (tips hat to CR4 user Harley.)
Reply
Kris
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 13174
Good Answers: 83
#12
In reply to #11

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/28/2012 9:57 AM

..and just who do you think programs Mak ? I only tightened a few nuts, Del did the firmware.

Does the spegalog chucker stile wurk ? Gove ip using it agis ago.

__________________
These nuts may contain traces of post.
Reply
Randall
Guru

Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hemel Hempstead, UK
Posts: 3095
Good Answers: 142
#16
In reply to #9

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/29/2012 5:14 AM

what is the number one item in anybody's tool box ?

Funnily enough I can't find a picture of mine, which has a small Phillips screw driver/bottle opener instead of the scissors.

It fits in a key wallet thingy easily (2¼" long). The flat head screw driver is excellent for Phillips/posidriv no. 1s and 2s.

__________________
We are alone in the universe, or, we are not. Either way it's incredible... Adapted from R. Buckminster Fuller/Arthur C. Clarke
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
passingtongreen
Guru

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Glen Mills, PA.
Posts: 1791
Good Answers: 78
#13

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/28/2012 7:50 PM

Part of a brain surgeon's toolkit.

__________________
"Gardens are not made by singing ‘Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade." ~ Rudyard Kipling
Reply
Epke
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Netherlands - Member - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Japan
Posts: 2387
Good Answers: 29
#14

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/28/2012 8:46 PM

proto type fisher price hammer!

__________________
From the Movie "The Big Lebowski" Don't pee on the carpet man!
Reply
2
Randall
Guru

Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hemel Hempstead, UK
Posts: 3095
Good Answers: 142
#15

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/29/2012 4:42 AM

Whatever it is there's one for sale here:-

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1916-tomahawk-mfg-co-cleveland-ohio

At least we know it's 5 inches long.

And it looks like they made quite a lot that were well used:-

My guess is that it's for removing nails, and, I think you hit the "hammer head" with another hammer rather than hit something with it.

But: I also found this:-

I bought an old tool at a junk shop and it appears to be a grease applicator of some sort. It is a small hatchet-shaped tool with a handle that screws off and on. There is a small hole in the head of the tool which connects to the shaft. I am guessing that grease was placed in the hollow shaft, the handle replaced and as the handle was screwed further down the shaft, grease was forced out the head. It is marked with TOMAHAWK MANUFACTURING CO. CLEVELAND, OH.

__________________
We are alone in the universe, or, we are not. Either way it's incredible... Adapted from R. Buckminster Fuller/Arthur C. Clarke
Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Go to Next Good Answer
5
Doorman
Guru
Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member, but planning to be an Old Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fargo, America, USA
Posts: 5166
Good Answers: 189
#17

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/29/2012 11:02 AM

That is a buggy spring grease tool.

I'm not sure how I know that... I just have that in the creaky drawers of my memory.

We'll see if I remember correctly.

[edit] I just read Randall's #15, and that is the way I remember. The handle is a grease reservoir. The chisel was pounded between leaves of the spring, and twisting the handle dispenses grease thru the head at the notch in the chisel. When I was a kid, some of the ranchers would break out their buggies for parades, the rodeo, high school prom, hayrides... that was a simpler time.

__________________
Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
Reply Good Answer (Score 5)
Go to Next Good Answer
redfred
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 6991
Good Answers: 463
#18
In reply to #17

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/29/2012 11:56 AM

That makes sense to me. After the buggies faded into a memory I'll bet you that grease tool could still open a few crates.

__________________
"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering." Freeman Dyson
Reply
3
Doorman
Guru
Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member, but planning to be an Old Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fargo, America, USA
Posts: 5166
Good Answers: 189
#19
In reply to #18

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/29/2012 4:32 PM

Ah, look what I found:

Apparently not specific to buggies... Well, why should it be? As long as it works.

__________________
Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
Reply Good Answer (Score 3)
No more Good Answers.
Yahlasit
Guru

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Posts: 648
Good Answers: 41
#22
In reply to #19

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/31/2012 5:22 PM

You've got it, Doorman ! I doubt you'd ever see a rancher grabbing a tool with such delicacy (lower pic), but I'm sure the tool would be welcome by many of us who still have leaf springs on our vehicles, mine's an old cj5.

Regards

__________________
No hay conocimiento ni herramienta que sustituya al sentido comun.
Reply
SavvyExacta
Guru
United States - Member - Lifelong New Yorker Popular Science - Biology - Animal Science Technical Fields - Technical Writing - Technical Writer CR4 Admins - CR4 Admin - CR4 Admin

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NY
Posts: 1655
Good Answers: 28
#20

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/30/2012 10:18 AM

Randall and Doorman were right - it's a leaf spring greaser.
Reply
ky
Guru
Hobbies - Musician - New Member Australia - Member - Torn and breading Engineering Fields - Nanoengineering - New Member APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 3851
Good Answers: 75
#21

Re: What Is It? for 5/27/12

05/30/2012 4:43 PM

Its the murder victim of WD40.

There are supposedly mass graves out there.

__________________
The Twain Has Met
Reply
Reply to Blog Entry 22 comments
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Comments rated to be Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive ratings to make them "good answers".
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Del the cat (1); Doorman (2); Epke (1); Hendrik (2); Kris (4); ky (1); lyn (2); passingtongreen (1); PWSlack (1); Randall (2); redfred (2); SavvyExacta (1); SolarEagle (1); Yahlasit (1)

Previous in Blog: What Is It? for 5/20/2012   Next in Blog: What Is It? for 6/3/12


"It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation which give happiness." -- Thomas Jefferson

All times are displayed in US/Eastern (EDT) (Register to change time zone)

Got Something to Say?
Ask a Question
Start a Discussion

Search this Section
General:
Go

Search this Blog
What Is It?:
Go

Search all of CR4
Go

Recent Blog Entries

Blog Tags
Exhaust pipe for an Industrial vehicle games hay bale hook Ice hook It is a traveling car frfor loading hay into the l meat hook puzzles What could it be? what is it What is it? Where is it?

Blog Links

CR4 Sections
Aerospace
BioMech & BioMed
Chemical & Material Science
Civil Engineering
Communications & Electronics
Education and Engineering Careers
Electrical Engineering
General
Instrumentation
Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
New Technologies & Research
Software & Programming
Sustainable Engineering
Transportation

Site Directories
Forum Directory
Blog Directory
User Group Directory
RSS Feeds
CR4 Store

CR4 Rules of Conduct
CR4 FAQ
Site Glossary

Who's Online (141 right now)
Show Members