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Message started by Digger on 07/22/09 at 20:54:36

Title: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Digger on 07/22/09 at 20:54:36

OK....I've got a question for the hive mind.

What is this thing?

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/MysteryTool-3E.jpg

It has been in my tool chest for years. I scrounged it over 30 years ago, but can't remember where I got it. I have no idea what it is for.

As you can see, it is basically a rather stiff wire that is about 7 1/2 inches in length. It has a small knurled knob on one end:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/MysteryTool-1E.jpg

It has a curious metallic bulb on the other end:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/MysteryTool-2E.jpg

One last thing: While the wire itself is attracted by a magnet, the knob and the bulb are not.

What in the heck is this thing?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Reelthing on 07/22/09 at 21:33:31

Is a little odd looking - given your past do you have any idea what industry it might have came from? - like did it follow you home from an aircraft or nasa?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 07/22/09 at 21:33:42

A doohickie?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Educatedredneck on 07/22/09 at 22:10:33

I don't have a clue, but I wonder if some men in black suits are gonna show at your door and ask for the final piece of national treasure back.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Serowbot on 07/22/09 at 22:21:53

No idea,.. but I guarantee if you leave it in there,... one day it will come in handy.

Boy,.... I wish I had one of those...... ;D

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by PerrydaSavage on 07/23/09 at 00:41:11

Up here in Newfoundland, that is what would be referred to as a Chummyjigger ... known elsewhere as a Thingamabob or a Whatchamacallit ...

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Toymaker on 07/23/09 at 01:22:42

or a Gizmachie?

;D

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Tincanman on 07/23/09 at 01:53:39

well call me a nut but thats CLEARLY a Super Luxurious Omnidirectional Whatchamajigger!!! [smiley=beer.gif]

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by SinisterSnake on 07/23/09 at 01:57:51

Looks like a dipstick to me...

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by youzguyz on 07/23/09 at 02:11:22

Throw it away. In about a week it will become painfully apparent what it was.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by bill67 on 07/23/09 at 03:08:56

Its a denwitty,Its to wind the moon

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by LANCER on 07/23/09 at 03:42:23

Oh dear, now we know why one of the shuttles has a hard time getting off the ground; several non-launches/delays in recent years. Of course the PR dept of NASA usually puts it off on to the hydrogen gas cloud leak or something, but now we know the REAL TRUTH ... the greatest machine of all time ever built by man is missing its' CHOKE KNOB.
[b]It is hard to start such a big engine on a cold morning without a functioning choke.[/b ;)

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by doc5446 on 07/23/09 at 05:13:10

615B5C5B41465740615C535957320 wrote:

Looks like a dipstick to me...

I agree...but a dipstick to what I couldn't tell ya.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by T Mack 1 on 07/23/09 at 05:17:52

Agree with Lancer.

Looks very much like a fuel enrichener cable from an old motorcycle. But..... since Digger is in the aerospace community, could it be an enrichener from an airplane??

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Rocco on 07/23/09 at 05:18:55

it's a whip =] smack your savage on the bike while riding..... ;D

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Rock_Steady on 07/23/09 at 05:47:29

It's a dinglehopper.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/23/09 at 08:07:42

I hold onto things that IF I needed, only that item would possibly solve the problem. This thing, tho, you could make in no time, IF you needed it. I do have some odd things just hanging around, that will never be used, unless I pound those old wrenches into a knife maybe?
Get it out of your way, hang it up somewhere.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by kel30734 on 07/23/09 at 09:46:48

5F525D5056410104330 wrote:

Lancer You are SOOOO Funny

Office mates thought I was cracking up I laughed so Loud.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Serowbot on 07/23/09 at 09:56:00

33383D3D6766510 wrote:

Its a denwitty,Its to wind the moon

So you're the guy!.....
Wind that thing will ya'?....
I thought my watch was broke...... :-?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Rogue_Cheddar on 07/23/09 at 10:01:35

I'v narrowed it down to three possibilities:
A fogarty bevel, a phreniated plebney, or a Henway.

What's a Henway?
About three pounds.

:D

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Gort on 07/23/09 at 11:30:55

I've seen similar things on antique cars made earlier than the 1930's. Many of these obsolete makes were mostly handmade, and used cables for various functions which were often ornate. I've seen them with the bulb on the end of the cable and this fitted into a handmade lever. The lever would control anything from a choke to an airvent, etc. In those days you didn't see the type of cables in use today, where the end of the cable attached to the lever via a screw in the lever which pinched the cable. If it is an antique car part, the knob is brass/bronze because it was easier to cast and hand turn it in a lathe, and the bulb was brass/bronze because it was easier to cast it onto the cable and it also would wear out faster than the steel lever to which it was attached. This made for an easier repair, if needed. I found a very old Huppmobile in a field and removed a very similar cable from it. The knob was very ornate and I needed a choke knob/cable for my Wolseley, so I adapted the Huppmobile cable. So maybe you have something like that.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 13:32:50

When did we change choke to enrichener? Is your little finger crooked when you drink your Bud?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by bill67 on 07/23/09 at 13:37:02

Choke cuts off the air,enrichener that the fuel flow in,two different things.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 13:38:37

Isn't that the same thing?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by bill67 on 07/23/09 at 13:40:21

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 14:01:23

What kind of engines have an enrichner? I have an old John Deere that has a "stator" which controls the speed. Similiar?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 07/23/09 at 14:03:00

The Savage/S40 engine has an enrichener.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 14:09:55

Is that a hand control or automatic. I am not being a smart butt, but in my 68+ years I have never heard of an enrichener.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by bill67 on 07/23/09 at 14:11:55

Years ago all motors had chokes,Its like putting your hand over and open carb,and the engine gets no air,I think motorcycles have had enricheners for years,you still get air with an enrichener,and a lot of fuel

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by bill67 on 07/23/09 at 14:13:38

Hand control on bikes

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by bill67 on 07/23/09 at 14:17:25

You know how lawn mowers have that little bubble you push 3 =10 times thats and enrichener ,Hand powered.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 07/23/09 at 14:29:27

4B4045451F1E290 wrote:

You know how lawn mowers have that little bubble you push 3 =10 times thats and enrichener ,Hand powered.

No, that's a primer.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 14:49:10

Man, now I am really confused! I think I will Google it.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 07/23/09 at 14:52:05

An enrichener serves as a choke except that instead of closing off the air flow to the carb, it dumps more fuel in instead. It is cable operated on a bike that is carburated.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 14:54:44

Got it! Thanks.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 15:05:04

I saw a pic of an enrichener on a web site and it looks like a lever with a needle valve on the carb end. That must be the difference. Gas vs. air on a choke. I'm sooo happy, I finally got it. But if you go back to the original pic, does that look like an enrichener or a choke? Ha!

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 07/23/09 at 15:10:39

The consensus so far is that it is a cable to operate either a choke or an enrichener from some kind of classic car. It is not the choke or enrichener itself.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Serowbot on 07/23/09 at 15:23:39

I say it's a drawer pull from a Laurel and Hardy film.... :-?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/23/09 at 15:24:13

The end of the cable looks kind of like a needle valve. My bet is enrichener. But what the heck do I know? Up to 45 minutes ago I had never even heard of one.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Digger on 07/23/09 at 21:38:40

I think I have my answer.

Some of the folks on my Gold Wing forum work in the medical business. Apparently my "mystery tool" is a medical device that is used with suction machines.

That was all I wanted to know.

It makes sense now. SWMBO is a nurse, and she must have brought this thing home some time in the '70's. Since I've always been a scrounger, I tossed it into my toolbox.

I showed it to her after I was educated by the Gold Wing guys. She knew what it was right away.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/24/09 at 01:40:21

Well, Crappola,, I was a lot happier while it was all strange & mysterious.
Why the hekk do you think the show is called "UNsolved Mysteries"?
Because a solved mystery is just not near as fun, thats why.

NOW what are ya gonna do with it?

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by John_D on 07/24/09 at 02:34:22

565D58580203340 wrote:

Let me sum this up, and see if I'm understanding this correctly, and if not, everyone feel free to correct me.

Choke: like on automobiles, an extra set of butterfly's that cut off partial air flow to the engine, thus enriching the mixture.

Enrichener: I'm guessing just dumps more fuel into the mix, without impeding the air flow?

Am I right? Do I get a cookie? :D

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 07/24/09 at 02:35:50

6374757F74727A2623202123110 wrote:

[quote author=565D58580203340 link=1248321276/15#28 date=1248383515] Years ago all motors had chokes,Its like putting your hand over and open carb,and the engine gets no air,I think motorcycles have had enricheners for years,you still get air with an enrichener,and a lot of fuel

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by John_D on 07/24/09 at 02:42:35

4F7978637E57727F657F160 wrote:

[quote author=6374757F74727A2623202123110 link=1248321276/30#41 date=1248428062][quote author=565D58580203340 link=1248321276/15#28 date=1248383515] Years ago all motors had chokes,Its like putting your hand over and open carb,and the engine gets no air,I think motorcycles have had enricheners for years,you still get air with an enrichener,and a lot of fuel

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by FreeSpirit on 07/24/09 at 03:42:02

67787E7964635262526A78743F0D0 wrote:

Justin, you are definitely one of a kind....and that's a good thing :)

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by runwyrlph on 07/24/09 at 08:15:10

466B65656770020 wrote:

I think I have my answer.

Some of the folks on my Gold Wing forum work in the medical business. Apparently my "mystery tool" is a medical device that is used with suction machines.

eww ... gross! :P
lets just say it's an antique obsolete enricher puller

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by LANCER on 07/24/09 at 13:13:47

4E636D6D6F780A0 wrote:

I think I have my answer.
Apparently my "mystery tool" is a medical device that is used with suction machines.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/MysteryTool-3E.jpg

Digger, I believe your wife believes she is correct in her memory but we need to be scientific here, and examine all the facts. So with all due respect I offer the following...

Ladies and gentlemen, these are the facts:

We know it is a device;
it is a knob with attached cable which obviously controls some kind of valve or lever or some such thing;
it is used on "suction machines" & we all know that a motorcycle engine is a suction machine;
** therefore, even though some misguided engineer (who always REALLY wanted to design motorcycles to begin with) made this thing function in some kind of medical device despite the fact that its original design function was as an enricher/choke for a motorcycle carburetor.

As supportive evidense I offer this choke cable as shown in the Sudco catalog, pg 98, part #007-208

http://www.sudco.com/CatalogJPG/098.jpg

I mean really, when we are just sitting around and our minds are wondering, we all know that ideas about parts and function of assorted parts and using THINGS that we can make to work for something we don't have for some unintended purpose is what we do a lot of the time. Owning a Savage or S40, which is so disrespected and forgotten by the after market suppliers is something that creates in us a MINDSET of creativity. We become inventors by necessity.
Anyway, this knob-cable assembly was certainly destined to be a choke knob.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/24/09 at 15:16:54

& all this time I thought a "choke cable" was just slang for a garrote.

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by kenshi on 07/25/09 at 03:31:04

Hmmm, i thought it looked like one of the old a/c vent pulls, off say, a 60's Fairlane or somethin'.
Or you could acually choke someone with iit........

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Rocco on 07/25/09 at 11:42:27

to clerify i meant to say "dmack your savage on the butt while riding" i put bike for some reason...gotta start sleeping every now and then ! lol

Title: Re: What the Heck Is This Thing?
Post by Oldnewguy on 07/25/09 at 12:29:08

HUH?