Another tool identification

[dickm]

Almost certainly not a woodworking tool, but can anyone enlighten me as to the purpose of this:-

The usual answer for puzzles like this is "for leatherwork", and indeed, this came with a job lot of leatherworking tools. But what is it used for? Obviously a hammer of some sort, but the polished striking faces of different curvature look more like something for jewellry or similar metalwork.

 

[Richard T]

I don't think it is used as a hammer - wrong handle. Although I think it might be held over something and struck with something else.

Pretty vague, but then that's me all over.

 

[AndyT]

I'm seriously considering buying a copy of Salaman's Dictionary of Leather Working Tools, but I haven't yet. Someone else on the forum must have a copy. I agree with the idea of it being held still while something else is beaten onto it. Saddle makers needed tools with long handles but I don't really think it was one of theirs.

 

[Richard T]

Soft, hollow rivets?

 

[TobyC]

Send Peter McBride an email or PM, he is both tool collector and jeweler.

http://www.petermcbride.com/oldtools

 

[Dangermouse]

Looks like a grommet testers filibustering testicle hammer.

 

[AndyT]

I'm pretty sure it's a bookbinder's polisher, used for rubbing and smoothing leather bindings before tooling. I found a similar looking tool illustrated in Alvin Sellers' Dictionary of American Hand Tools.

This modern one for sale confirms it:

http://www.hewitonline.com/Polishing_Iron_Cylindrical_p/tl-100-cyl.htm

 

[dickm]

Thanks, Andy, that certainly sounds convincing.
Don't think it was meant to be held and hit, as both faces were more or less perfect, just different curvatures.
The rest of the leatherworking stuff went to daughter in the USA, so will see if she can make use of this too.

 

[joethedrummer]

Looks like a grommet testers filibustering testicle hammer.

Cor, I remember great grandad having both the single and two ball versions but he ditched them in favour of the ball-pein hammer when that came out,,