What Is It? Game 109

Posted by Alex in What Is It on September 3, 2009 at 11:59 am

Oops – I almost forgot! Today is the we all get to play the guessing game, courtesy of the always awesome What is it? Blog. Can you guess what this strange (and dangerous!) looking tool is for?

And today being the first game of the month, let’s have a prize. The first person who guessed right will win a Cool Jazz Ice Tray and Stirrers from the Neatorama Shop. If nobody got it right, then the funniest guess will win instead. Please post no links or URLs – let others play.

For more clues, check out the What is it? Blog. Click for more Cool and Unusual Ice Trays. Good luck!

Update 9/5/09 – the answer is: A sugar devil or fruit auger, used at the general store to loosen compacted sugar or dried fruit from a barrel.

Congratulations to avalchfan who got it right!

 
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Vise-Grip Tales

Posted by Alex in Gadget, Medicine on March 10, 2009 at 2:59 pm

Last year, vise-grip manufacturer Irwin held a contest called "Tell Us Your Vise-Grip Story" where people share their personal experience of using the tool. They’ve chosen 3 finalists, one of which is this one by Bryan from Chesapeake, VA:

As a US Navy spine surgeon, I routinely deal with dozens of different types of screws, rods and bolts that have been implanted into the spine. Each manufacturer has their own unique tools to insert and remove their specific hardware. While deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I did not have access to these specialized tools. I did however have some Vise-Grips that could be sterilized and used to emergently remove the screws and rods from this infected solider’s spine.

No doubt about it – vise-grips are useful. Almost as useful as duct tapes: Link – via Popular Mechanics and The Zeray Gazette

 
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What is it? Game 89

Posted by Alex in What Is It on January 22, 2009 at 8:01 am

Hooray! It’s time for our collaboration with the ever-awesome What is it? Blog. This week brings us this strange lookin’ object. Can you guess what it is for?

Place your guess in the comment section – no prize this week, so you’re playing for bragging rights only.

For more clues, check out the What is it? Blog! Good luck!

Update 1/24/09 – the answer is:

A tool used to remove carbon deposits from the gooves of a piston, patent number 1,768,692. Text on it reads: “Owatonna Tool Co. #840, Made in Owatonna, Minn. USA”.

 
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