Whatzit

[gibsontool]

I think this is a jeweler's anvil but need confirmation. What do you guys think?

[Bill Houghton]

Looks to me more like something that had a pivoting something or other on the ball.

[gibsontool]

I had thought of that and you could well be right, but there is a flat spot on the top of the ball which led me to think of a small anvil.

[gibsontool]

It does say " LIFETIME " on it if than rings a bell with anyone.

[amecks]

The groove in the base makes it look like it was meant to mount on a pipe or other round shaft.

[geneg]

Seems like I remember seeing a saw filing vise that had a similar arrangement.  A clamp with a large wingnut allowed you to set the holding angle on the ball.

[gibsontool]

I have a couple of the saw filing vises that geneg is talking about and they are  quite a bit bigger than this guy but it could well be a smaller vise for a smaller saw. I went out to my shop this morning to have another look at this thing and now I can't find it. Spent most of yesterday cleaning up and organizing my shop but the organizing part is obviously not going so well.

[geneg]

I have at least one too.  BUT the chance of seeing any of them this year is next to zero.  Shop cleanup starts next year!

[geneg]

I say that every year.

[Chillylulu]

Jewelers tools, at least for silver or gold smithing, are usually not cast iron.  They are very smooth, because you can only work metal as smooth as your tools.

My guess is it is for attaching something for theatrical use to a rail.

Chilly

[Northwoods]

Jewelers tools, at least for silver or gold smithing, are usually not cast iron.  They are very smooth, because you can only work metal as smooth as your tools.

My guess is it is for attaching something for theatrical use to a rail.

Chilly

Something like this--only different?  https://www.strobesnmore.com/Whelen-PAR-36-Round-Super-LED-Work-Light-Pedestal-Swivel-Mount.html 

[geneg]

Good thought!  I could see a small light attached to it.

[gibsontool]

You guys got me pretty well convinced it's NOT a jewelers anvil.

[MAD]

I am pretty sure it is part of a clamp for mounting photographic accessories etc. The missing piece of the ball joint probably connected to a a piece with a  tripod thread stud for mounting a camera, flash, or light. Either that or it may have been  a dedicated part of a photo flood light. That style of clamp is deigned to  be multi purpose, clamping to flat or round surfaces.