From the flea

[lptools]

Good pick from a late start at the flea!!

[amecks]

Hi Lou.  What's the spinner thing and the three plier handle tools?
Al

[lptools]

Hello, Al. I am going to call the tool on the left some type of Bow Drill, still haven't figured out how it works. The tall pliers are Starrett Cut Nippers. The small one in the middle is a Tubing Cutter and the next one is an Eyelet Punch, both of these are Bernard.

[Lewill2]

The drill, I think you wind the string up on the arbor and press down on the cross bar to turn the arbor. The weight at the bottom helps to keep it turning until you have to start over.

[Lewill2]

Sellens calls them pump drills, page 82 of his Dictionary Of American Hand Tools.

[lptools]

Hello, Lewill2. I didn't think that it was assembled correctly. I will try agin tomorrow! Thanks!!

[Bill Houghton]

In the drawings I've seen, the arbor runs through the cross piece.  It looks from here like it's just sitting next to it.

It's kind of nifty technology - simple as can be, but apparently many jewelers used them as a standard tool until quite recently.

[lptools]

Hello, Bill. I had to loosen the knots in what I believe is leather, or, rawhide cord/strap. Either way, covered in grease, or, wax. Does this look right? The more I look at this , it appears to be shop made, the rod looks like the spindle from a surface gage. The weight/flywheel is brass, and looks like a re-purposed scale weight!

[Bill Houghton]

Looks like the drawings I've seen.  In those drawings, the person using the drill rests his/her hand on top of the cross-piece, with the spindle running between fingers - say, middle and ring - winds up the cord, and then pushes down, letting up as the cross-piece reaches the bottom of its travel and letting the cord wind up, then repeating.