New Guy, Old Tools...

[BoogDoc7]

Hey, new guy here.  Ran across these not too long ago.  Curious as to what they are.

Some intricate gearing.  The large disc has a felt backing, makes me wonder if this isn't some sort of hand-cranked sander.  Made in the USA, has a serial number and a model number and a box-logo that says "FMG" or somesuch.

I appreciate any help.

[Papaw]

Welcome to Tool Talk!
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[BoogDoc7]

Sorry.  Made modifications.

[johnsironsanctuary]

WAG!!  The plate with holes looks like it works like a machinists dividing head. From the counts that I can do, the multiplier is 7 and that makes absolutely no sense. I don't think it is a meat grinder either. Anyone else want to jump in here? Anyway, Welcome from Wisconsin.

[BoogDoc7]

I'll try and get some better pics of the innards over the next few days.  Were there ever any sanding discs with a 1' diameter?

Notice the picture of the "base" piece (3rd pic) as well - like it makes electricity somehow...

[amecks]

You may have the guts of a wind-up phonograph. Crank, spring, flywheel, governor weights. Bottom picture shows a shiny round part witha squiggly tube attached - that may be the holder for the needle cartridge (some were about the size of a silver dollar) where it actually rested on the record. The tube transmitted the sound to the megaphone via a rubber hose.
Al

[1930]

You may have the guts of a wind-up phonograph. Crank, spring, flywheel, governor weights. Bottom picture shows a shiny round part witha squiggly tube attached - that may be the holder for the needle cartridge (some were about the size of a silver dollar) where it actually rested on the record. The tube transmitted the sound to the megaphone via a rubber hose.
Al

Yes that is exactly what it looks like to me, inside of the cylinder you will find the spring

[BoogDoc7]

Yep.  Ran an ebay search for "phonograph parts" and finding some very much like these.  I wasn't expecting them to be this heavy and made out of iron, I guess.

[Billman49]

Late 19th century it was common to cast parts in iron for items like these - today we would press from thin steel and spot weld - the difference is these bits are still in working condition after 100 years (or would be if cleaned up and restored) - how may of today's pressed steel items will last 100 year???? I still have my parents 1920's wind up gramophone and a whole stack of 78's (and some Victorian ones that run at a faster speed) - most gramophones had a facilty to run +/- 10 % over the stated speed, hence the variable governor control.