Mystery Tool 2

[DistCoop]

A coworker stumbled across this device from a pile of scrap and brought it in to the office. No one has been able to identify it.

It's maybe 1.25 feet long, has a brass threaded cap, and has "1 3/8" printed on it. There are two holes drilled on either side, half way down the device, at roughly a 45 degree angle facing down.

It's got us stumped... hopefully someone has seen it before

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Have never seen one like yours, but believe it is pole socket. Drive it into the ground and put a 1 3/8" diameter pole in the socket. Here is a modern version:

http://www.amazon.com/MARKERS-INC-Smartpole-Ground-Sockets/dp/B00016LP2K

I suppose the two holes on the side are to be used if you want to fasten the pole in place, more or less permanently before driving into the ground.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Forgot to say (that is, speculate) the threaded cap is to keep dirt, leaves, etc. out of the socket if the socket is left in the ground without the pole being in place. A real "upscale" device.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[DistCoop]

One person in the office now believes those holes were drilled and the cap was threaded by an amateur. So, if we were to ignore those two pieces, would anything fit better?

 

[monkeydog]

Does the threaded cap on top have a bore down to the two 45 deg holes?
Could it be a tree root watering tool?

 

[Compositepro]

It may be a whaling harpoon which is shot from a cannon. The cross holes are for attahing a lanyard. The head of the harpoon detaches from the shaft after penetration and pulling on the lanyard causes the head to turn and latch into the whale.

 

[JohnRBaker]

That was my first thoughts as well as it seemed to be a bit 'over-engineered' for a so-called 'pole socket'.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[berkshire]

Is this a " Jet bore tool"? If the thread is NPT it could be a device attached to the end of a pipe for water boring under side walks and patios.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[DistCoop]

I'm just not sure... I've googled images of your suggestions and none quite look right. It does look as though it's been modified. It may have been something completely different that was modified to be a watering tool (some watering device was suggested here as well). It's just something a friend found out of his grandfather's garage

 

[Compositepro]

It is a lawn flagpole socket.

http://www.united-states-flag.com/c..._content=pla&gclid=CJKq7tagnLgCFWFo7AodzUgAyA

 

[berkshire]

SO, The original had been modified.
The small holes were what threw me off.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[JohnRBaker]

If they left it in the ground, even when no flagpole was attached, the holes may have been added to allow rainwater to drain.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[DistCoop]

Compositepro, I believe you've nailed it. JohnRBaker, I suspect you're right as well. I'm fairly certain the holes were drilled by my friend's Grandfather... draining seems the best reason for that.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The office can calm down now

 

[dik]

They had similar items 30 or 40 years ago that were used for reforestation... they dropped the seeded object from a plane and the tree would grow if embedded in soil... just a WAG...

Dik