What Is It? game 184



Once again, it's time for our collaboration with the always amusing What Is It? Blog. Do you know what the pictured item is? Can you make a wild guess?

Place your guess in the comment section below. One guess per comment, please, though you can enter as many as you'd like. Post no URLs or weblinks, as doing so will forfeit your entry. Two winners: the first correct guess and the funniest (albeit ultimately wrong) guess will win T-shirt from the NeatoShop.

Please write your T-shirt selection alongside your guess. If you don't include a selection, you forfeit the prize, okay? May we suggest the Science T-Shirt, Funny T-Shirt and Artist-Designed T-Shirts?

For more clues, check out the What Is It? Blog. There's another picture of this item at a slightly different angle there. Good luck!

Update: the object in question is a mailing machine for putting addresses on newspapers and magazines. Villaridge knew that, and won a t-shirt from the NeatoShop. Meanwhile, DocKami said, "it's a .... IT'S A TRAP !" which made me laugh, so he wins a t-shirt for the funniest answer. It does kind of resemble a trap, doesn't it?

I also want to remind you of the "one guess per comment" rule, because we had a lot of people with multiple guesses this week, and that's not really fair to everyone else. Of course, you are welcome to leave as many comments as you want.

Seem to be a kind of tape/band dispenser,
it seems that the black roll at the front end of the handle serves as a kind of thumb operated brake for adjusting the tension wich which the band/tape is dispensed.
there also seem to be a kind of band/tape cutter provided at the front end of the device

it seems that there is also a kind of resilient jaw like rest provided at the front bottom end of the device, that is i expect that it is for some kínd of adhesive band/film, adhesive tape such as duct tape 600mph tape, pressure sensitive tape or even gummed fabric or paper tape..

the cranked rod at the rear end seems to serve to hold a roll of band/tape/film.

it seems also possible that the tape/band dispenser may serve for labelling purposes

Zombie - Eat Flesh 2XL
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What?! Its a duck call stretcher of course. I've used one of those before. It turned my call into a geese call from a mallard call.

Math Problems? Men's L, Blue
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it's a mailing label affixer. used by newspapers.

a newspapers "by Mail" subscription list is printed on a roll, put into this contraption. you roll a subscribers name and address out, it runs over the glue roller at bottom, then you slap the device down on a newspaper, which causes the snippet of paper with name and address to be cut off the roll, and adhere to the newspaper.

Schrondinger Cat T shirt ( XL )
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How quickly we forget the past. I inherited one of these from my grandfather, who while having none of his original teeth still flossed religiously (usually in church).

This is a "Repunzel" dental floss dispenser (disposable version). It used finely spun human hair, or golden spun straw (Rumpelstiltskin version). I believe the latter could be refilled, but only after promising your first born (not a bad deal back then).

Personally, I prefer the more modern dental tape dispensers as pockets have decreased in size over the decades.

Anyway, mystery solved... where do I get my t-shirt?
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I second the guess that might be some kind of tape dispenser.

but if you really want to know what I think...

it clearly is a mountain climbing device. the flat metal bit at the front ratchets down on vinyl straps, and the gears crank the position on the strap forward, enabling the climber to hold the handle and safely ascend the mountain.
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It's a steam-punk torture device for parents frustrated by misbehaving kids! All you have to do is start turning the handle when they don't want to do what they're supposed to. When they ask what the device is for, look menacing, keep turning the handle, and say "You REALLY don't want to find out!"

Alternatively, it's a steampunk conversation starter. Leave it on the coffee table at a party, watch people turn the handle, and viola! - instant conversational guesses about what it REALLY is!

Tee shirt: Brainier than the average bear, ladies size XL
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Not sure, but it looks similar to a device I used to use that was for banding bundles of things. It would crank tight and then secure a length of metal band around bundles (of metal pipe in my case) in preparation for shipping or transport. I have seen newer, simpler setups, but the one i used was an ancient, steampunk-looking thing like this.

If I am right I would like flying monkeys t-shirt as large as you sell (2xl or 3xl if possible)
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It is known as a Wing Labeler. A roll of labels is fed in under the handle and forward over a glue pot (brass thing at the front). When you slap the machine down the lable is cut and pushed down on the envelope or whatever by the "wing" on the front.
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I believe #39 Desman Bailey has guessed correctly. It is an apple peeler. Having said that, it might be a Brazilian bikini waxing machine.
T-shirt: May the fork be with you. XL. Black
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a custom made kite spool for charlie brown... however never introduced in the cartoon series... the line of the kite is winded up on the cranced reel at the rear end...the thumb brake serves to slowly release the line between the front rollers...
and on front there is an emergency line cutter in case the kite-seeking and eating tree striked again...


Execution vs. Ideas 2xl Ash Grey
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It's a device for applying wallboard (paper) tape - used when spackeling -- Spackleing -- Spaqueling -- Fixing the joints.

Come to the dark side - we have cookies 3X
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It's a wing labeler. Used one to address newspapers at our local weekly paper. Addresses were printed on long strips of paper, pasted together and rolled up on the spindle. There is a gear on the handle that let you advance the paper, the paper passes over the tin of paste. You placed the sticky paper on the newspaper and pushing down on the labeler caused the wing to cut the label off. Handy little gadget.
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