mystery cutter

[BobB]

Anyone know what this is. Has a handle and a spring loaded adjustable cutter. Name is "Order Cutter by Gage" .015-.020- .025

[Papaw]

Looks like the commutator mica cutter I bought without knowing what it was several years ago. It was one of Tool Talk's early "What's-Its".
I'll try to dig up some pictures.
Lynn Dowd has one, and I have three of them now.
That "order cutter by gage" means you could order the cutter blades in three different gages.

[BobB]

Thanks PawPaw.......You guys have been a great help. I hope you guys will bear with my ignorance

BobB

[Papaw]

If you remember old generators, the armature had a brass commutator with mica separators. It could wear down and when worn, would short. You could dress or turn down the commutator, but would have to cut the mica down also. This tool cut the mica neatly. The armature chucked up in the tool and was turned one step at a time, the cutter was pushed in to cut it neatly.

[BobB]

Thanks agani

[Papaw]

Long story-
Several years ago, a guy called me to come ID a "wrench" at a local bar. I went there and looked at this contraption, spent a lot of time trying to figure it out, drank three beers in the process, took pictures, and left not knowing what the hell it was!
Months later at a tool show in Houston, a guy had one on his table, but he didn't know either, and he had been carrying it around several years trying to find out what it was!
I bought it for $20, just for the "cool" factor. I posted it on Tool Talk as a "What's-It", and in just a day or two had the answer. Later, Lynn Dowd discovered that he had one also. An old member of the forum showed us his, and told us what it was. I now have three of them for some reason, two similar and one a little different. Yours is even a little more different.
Still haven't had time to find the pictures.

[BobB]

cool story