whats this

[gibsontool]

I picked this up a while back but have no idea of its specific purpose. It has no names or markings anywhere that I can find, it appears to be all there other than it looks to have had a handle / arm or lever on the left of the first picture and the hex nut may have been a square nut originally. The socket portion is removable so it is possible it originally came with a set of sockets. Anybody got any ideas?

[john k]

That ratchet had a big Tee handle on it originally.   And it had several sockets with it.   Came with certain brands of threshing machines, for adjustments, clean outs.   Have one hanging in my shop.  Is most certainly a century old already.   Does the ratchet work?   I am still dousing mine with penetrant time to time.    One neat old and unusual tool.   

[Bus]

It's a threshing machine cylinder tooth wrench. I think the patent is No. 711,422 of 10-14-1902 issued to C. E. Greenlief of Newton, Iowa and assigned to The Parson Band Cutter & Feeder Co which was later acquired by Maytag which produce it as The Success Cylinder wrench.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=711422&id=25160

[gibsontool]

Thanks guys now I know what I got. To answer your question John, yes mine ratchets fine now, it was a little rusted and seized up when I got it but a bit of WD had it moving in a short time. I think a good vinegar soak is up next. Does yours still have the handle on it and what size is your socket. With no info on the tool how did you guys manage to figure it out so fast? Gotta love this forum. Jim

[john k]

I took my wrench into a MWTCA meet, put it on the whatzit table.   Two fellas got it right off.   Later I went to watch the threshing at one of the many tractor shows I attend, and got to see one of these actually used, fellow had 2 tools and the manual for his thresher.  The handle on mine looks cast, is thick in the middle, then necked down, and taper increases to the end of the Tee.   Handles are round, and socket is about one inch, but guess I could go to the shop and snap a pic soon.   

[gibsontool]

Thanks John. I'll check mine when I get home, but I think mine is a bit bigger.  Maybe 1 -1/16'' or 1 -1/8''. Next time you're looking at yours, I'd like to know its length. DAMN IT, this does not sound good...