Any Idea What This Is?

[Turbo]

The threaded bar is very similar to a vice screw, is 13" long and the nut pivots in the housing. On one end is a tommy bar and the triangular 'foot' on the other end pivots on a ball. The housing part is 22" long and looks like it's blacksmith made.

Bought it at a local auction and nobody there knew what it was for, not even the vintage machinery guys! I'm wondering if it's for lifting on heavy cart wheels.

 

[Maker]

I would guess some kind of lifting device, probably more useful with a left handed one too.

Would be used in conjunction with some blocks, you lift with the lever, then place blocks underneath, release the lever and wind the screw up, then repeat.

 

[Paul G]

Measuring the height of drinks cans ???

 

[Pete.]

I think it's some kind of levelling jack. Imagine you wanted to level something like a porta-cabin. You pick up one corner of the cabin with that jack, one peg under and the other in front of the corner. Lift using a tube extension over the handle, pack under the corner and if needed screw the leg down and take another lift.

Not saying it was used for porta-cabins of course but in the days before hi-abs etc this kind of work would have been very prevalent.

 

[normspanners]

I sort of agree with Pete apart from the bit about the one peg and the lever.
The peg would be round in that circumstance and it would need more articulation than the ball could give .

My take on it is that the handle was used to locate the square pins in two preset holes, in whatever it was lifting (call it a porta cabin) and would then be held solidly in place, the jack would then used to do the lifting, it would need slight articulation which the ball would give because of the radius formed by the object pivoting about its other corner.

 

[Pete.]

Actually Norm I think you are right. Very insightful on the range of motion of the pivot. Could it be a removable drawbar leg for an iron-framed cart? Something small that carries a heavy load?

 

[CRB]

I would agree with Norm and Pete. A levelling device which is not permanently attached to the object. I doubt that any levering is involved since the handle appears tapered so you would need a tapered sleeve in the handle.

 

[decca]

Could be for fitting and compressing floor boards. The two square pegs secure on a joist and the screw presses the floorboard tight before nailing down.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Could be for fitting and compressing floor boards. The two square pegs secure on a joist and the screw presses the floorboard tight before nailing down.

I think you've got it!

 

[Pete.]

I'm struggling to visualise that if I'm honest.

 

[rtbcomp]

Could be for fitting and compressing floor boards. The two square pegs secure on a joist and the screw presses the floorboard tight before nailing down.

I assume you mean it pushes the floorboard tight against the previous one, rather than down onto the joist?

That would explain why there needs to be a slight pivot, as it grips the joist it will turn slightly, but the shoe needs to be parallel with the floorboard.

 

[rtbcomp]

 

[normspanners]

Yes I think your right it is a floor board cramp
an older version of this http://www.birbek.com/products/vaughn-bowjack-board-straightening-tool.html
or this

 

[decca]

View attachment 69187

That is it exactly.

 

[normspanners]

or this one, that has cam locks for different width joists

 

[Wozzaaah]

A forum gold star for Decca!
Looky!

 

[normspanners]

And I checked Ebay too !! with floorboard clamp search minus the vintage bit, I checked usa too, it is strange what they miss at times you can do a search for something and they miss it, even if you click on, include description

 

[Wozzaaah]

I did a Google image search for antique floorboard cramp.

 

[decca]

A forum gold star for Decca!
Looky!

Thats made my day.
Cheers

 

[normspanners]

Message to the MODS could all new members be prevented from being 'right' until they have passed at least the one hundred posts, apprenticeship, please !! and then they should only be allowed, a cursory, MMMM that might be right.
Very embarrassing having a 26 poster getting GOLD STARS !!!