Never seen a windlass like this

[magnetman]

Not a hinge for a back cabin lamp is it?

 

(Idea came from current thread in history and heritage)

 

Maybe the seller knows it was off a canal boat but not what it was for.

Edited September 10, 2014 by magnetman

[Bettie Boo]

Could it be used for all these swing bridges on the K&A? Loads of them need a windless to release the bolt lock from the bridge before swinging it open. But I agree, it looks like something used as a fireplace tool to me

[mark99]

It's an offical widget whirler made by Gizmo & Co.

Edited September 11, 2014 by mark99

[YamYam]

It's an offical widget whirler made by Gizmo & Co.

 

Possibly, but more than likely Acme

[ditchcrawler]

 

Or a clock winder?

That gets my vote as well

[RLWP]

What about a handle for an extending table?

 

Here is one type:

 

 

Richard

[alan_fincher]

What about a handle for an extending table?

 

Here is one type:

I think, (like many clock winders), they normally have what is effectively a long socket, as the square they go onto is usually down a recessed hole.

 

The thing on the ebay advert can really only act on a squared off lump that projects from something - which you would be unlikely to have on an extending table, I think.

 

This is also whu I think it can't be a winder for many types of large clocks - usually again you eed something that "pokes down a hole" (to use a technical phrase!).

 

This, (which didn't sell, it seems), claimed to be a "Banjo Crank Folding", (whatever one of those is!), but again the seller probably didn't actually know what they had!. It looks like it might serve the same purpose as Ray's mystery object?

 

[RLWP]

It does indeed. So, whatever it is, there are several varieties of them

 

Richard

 

MORE: Each time I look at these folding crank handles I imagine a white gloved butler taking it out of his pocket to do something

 

And it is something that only goes one way

Edited September 11, 2014 by RLWP

[FadeToScarlet]

Ah ha! Got it!

 

It's for winding up Nicknorman.

[mark99]

 

 

MORE: Each time I look at these folding crank handles I imagine a white gloved butler taking it out of his pocket to do something

 

[RLWP]

Umm, not quite what I had in mind

 

Richard

[alan_fincher]

Ah ha! Got it!

 

It's for winding up Nicknorman.

 

So it is used for removing fake rivets from modern boats ????..........

[magnetman]

Maybe it is for turning a barrel organ.

 

 

http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/289556

 

Window winder

Hurdi ghurdi winder

 

Endless possibilities other than a canal windlass

[Dar Kuma]

Its so you can wind your neck in.

[BlueStringPudding]

 

Or a clock winder?

 

I was thinking it's for winding a clock too

[MtB]

 

I was thinking it's for winding a clock too

 

Why would a clock need winding?

 

Oh I know, when you want to turn it round to face the other way!

 

 

MtB

[Galeomma]

Can't believe it's for clocks. I have a mate who is a horologist, works at the Palace of Westminster and has keys/winders of hundreds of different styles and types but I've never seen one that breaks half way down.

[John Holden]

Can't believe it's for clocks. I have a mate who is a horologist, works at the Palace of Westminster and has keys/winders of hundreds of different styles and types but I've never seen one that breaks half way down.

 

How many tower clocks does he have in his care?

[Theo]

 

Almost as good as Jade Goody's comment about being made an 'escape goat' !

 

MtB

But a 'scape goat is an escape goat. It is a goat that is allowd to escape taking the blame for some malfeasance IIRC. I must Google it.

[churchward]

My first thought was a clock winder. A type of clock you would find in a church tower or some other large building with a large scale clock.

[BruceinSanity]

But a 'scape goat is an escape goat. It is a goat that is allowd to escape taking the blame for some malfeasance IIRC. I must Google it.

From worldwidewords.org:

 

the proverbial scapegoat, originally the animal sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it.

Haven't tracked down the etymology of it, so don't know if there's a link to "escape".

 

Eta: apparently it's the fault of William Tyndale in 1530 who chose "scapegoat" to translate the Latin "caper emissarius", the goat that leaves. Singularly inapposite it seems to me as the poor beast was driven out into the desert to die.

 

Sorry, that's totally off topic. I'll get back in my box now.

Edited October 28, 2014 by BruceinSanity

[SamKingfisher]

The winder on a Turkish coffee grinder is almost exactly like that.

[mango]

The winder on a Turkish coffee grinder is almost exactly like that.

Well done. There are plenty of photos online showing similar designs. This example seems a bit big for a coffee grinder.

[John Holden]

Well done. There are plenty of photos online showing similar designs. This example seems a bit big for a coffee grinder.

 

Big coffee grinder?

[Gordias]

It might be intended for a maintenance/upkeep action, to turn a device (maybe a big coffee grinder that's normally powered.

 

That would explain the otherwise strange choice of the compact and relatively flimsy construction for an object with a relatively large lever arm.

Edited October 28, 2014 by Gordias