Mystery tool

[AndyT]

I just bought a nice box of old woodwork tools on ebay. In amongst all the chisels, saws and planes was this strange object:

Now I don't think this is a woodworking tool, but I know that people on here are very knowledgeable and like a challenge - what is it?

The business end has a nicely curved casting which pivots on the main stem. If you twist the handle, the little t-piece moves away from the end.

I think maybe you could poke the end into something (leather?) then catch the t-piece and stretch the two apart. But really I have no idea!

Does anyone know?

Andy

 

[Shrubby]

Hello Andy
Your gadget looks like part of a boot or shoe stretcher.Imagine a wooden foot shape split down the centre with the handle sticking out of the top.Place inside the boot and turn the handle - the wedge drives apart the halves of the foot stretching the leather
Matt

 

[bugbear]

Correct; discussed back in 2006, with all pictures no longer on the web :-(

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... e%2A#96947

BugBear

 

[AndyT]

Brilliant!

Many thanks to you both. I hadn't made the mental leap of realising that the metal part was once inside a bigger wooden part, but with the one surviving picturefrom the old discussion, it all makes sense.

I guess the previous owner had thought the nice rolled thread was bound to come in handy for some special clamp or jig one day... but it never did!

Andy

 

[Tim Nott]

Brilliant!

with the one surviving picturefrom the old discussion,

Rather a shame you have to drill a hole in the back of your shoe to use the thing, though

 

[joiner_sim]

Now you've got part of the shoe making tool kit, how about making some clogs?
http://www.bjornclogs.co.uk/

 

[lurker]

Cue DaveL............

 

[DaveL]

Cue DaveL............

Well of course I just have to reply to this.

They look like good clogs, but they are the Swedish type of clog, mainly backless, I would fall off of them.
The clogs I wear do cost a lot more than those but then the woods are hand cut to fit my feet.
They last for years as long as you nail new bits of rubber shod on them so not to wear the wood. (hammer)