🔎 UNIDENTIFIED What is this odd looking tool?

[Ramswin]

Found at an estate sale. I haven't a clue what this is.
Wooden handle with metal attached.
The middle metal piece adjusts up and down to make the area between the 2 outer metal strips more shallow, or deeper.
Thanks for any insight someone may have.

 

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[Tpmetal]

I keep coming back to this thread hoping someone knows something. It has me stumped and I know quite a bit about antique tools, even some industry specific stuff. But this? no idea

 

[Tpmetal]

what part of the country or world was it found? were there other tools with it at the estate sale that you can remember that might give some context or clues?

 

[cw0909]

at 1st glance, I thought some kind of jig, but with that serrated scraper part, probably not a jig

 

[Blackfoot58]

I think it would work for a sidewalk edger. Mark the area that should be removed (dirt/grass). I seriously doubt that it is though. That’s just what jumped into my mind on first sight.

 

[Ramswin]

what part of the country or world was it found? were there other tools with it at the estate sale that you can remember that might give some context or clues?

It was found in Toledo Ohio. There were actually 4 of these, 3 of them left by the time I got there. (I bought all 3 at $2 each). I asked the people running the sale, but they knew nothing about them.
There were no other specialty tools at all at the sale.

 

[Bioheat1969]

Any markings, patent numbers or the like on it?

 

[Blackfoot58]

It was found in Toledo Ohio. There were actually 4 of these, 3 of them left by the time I got there. (I bought all 3 at $2 each). I asked the people running the sale, but they knew nothing about them.
There were no other specialty tools at all at the sale.

Yes, I would have purchased them also. I hope someone knows their purpose.

 

[Ramswin]

Any markings, patent numbers or the like on it?

No markings at all.

 

[Red-Coat]

That's an odd one for sure.

I can see how, if you loosened the butterfly nut, the block-like portion which has the handle would be free to move in an East/West direction. It also looks like the top tongue would move with it, as would the serrated bit.

What I can't see is how that would "make the area between the 2 outer metal strips more shallow, or deeper"... that is, I don't see how there would be freedom of travel for either of the tongues in a North/South direction (if that's what you actually mean).

Could you please give us some additional views and, if possible, show it in the "fully open" position?

 

[sprailroad]

I look at that and wonder...what the? OK, I hope someone can tell us. Treasure Net. people need to know. A little dramatic perhaps, but again what the ?

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

That is one weird tool.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Could it be a garden tool? Used to set the depth of the trench for various seeds?

 

[Rmeav8r]

I had to go to a vintage tool forum but I was sure I had seen something similar before. I was told that it is a sliding clapboard tool used by a carpenter or craftsman attaching clapboard siding. Here's the picture I got from the tool guys at The Garage Forum. I've made my own for Hardi Board Siding.
It would have been held vertically with probably someone else on the other end of the siding to make the work quicker. The second photo is of a Stanley tool for vertical use like this one. The third photo is the ones sold at HD, I fashioned mine after those.

Quote: It's a siding or clapboard gauge, maybe craftsman made rather than a factory item, but nicely done. Used to hold a piece of wood lap siding in place while installing it. One of mine is a Stanley No 89. Attached is a page from an Audel's manual showing the use.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Thanks! That was a real stumper.

 

[Gare]

Just a thought , What about some kind of mason tool . Like used in laying bricks ?

 

[Ramswin]

That's an odd one for sure.

I can see how, if you loosened the butterfly nut, the block-like portion which has the handle would be free to move in an East/West direction. It also looks like the top tongue would move with it, as would the serrated bit.

What I can't see is how that would "make the area between the 2 outer metal strips more shallow, or deeper"... that is, I don't see how there would be freedom of travel for either of the tongues in a North/South direction (if that's what you actually mean).

Could you please give us some additional views and, if possible, show it in the "fully

That's an odd one for sure.

I can see how, if you loosened the butterfly nut, the block-like portion which has the handle would be free to move in an East/West direction. It also looks like the top tongue would move with it, as would the serrated bit.

What I can't see is how that would "make the area between the 2 outer metal strips more shallow, or deeper"... that is, I don't see how there would be freedom of travel for either of the tongues in a North/South direction (if that's what you actually mean).

Could you please give us some additional views and, if possible, show it in the "fully open" position?

Both of the tongues are fixed to the Handle, and do not move. Here are a couple of more pics.

 

[Ramswin]

I had to go to a vintage tool forum but I was sure I had seen something similar before. I was told that it is a sliding clapboard tool used by a carpenter or craftsman attaching clapboard siding. Here's the picture I got from the tool guys at The Garage Forum. I've made my own for Hardi Board Siding.
It would have been held vertically with probably someone else on the other end of the siding to make the work quicker. The second photo is of a Stanley tool for vertical use like this one. The third photo is the ones sold at HD, I fashioned mine after those.

Quote: It's a siding or clapboard gauge, maybe craftsman made rather than a factory item, but nicely done. Used to hold a piece of wood lap siding in place while installing it. One of mine is a Stanley No 89. Attached is a page from an Audel's manual showing the use.

I guess maybe that may be the answer. But looking at those tools, and my mystery tool side by side, I am having trouble envisioning them being used for the same purpose. Definitely the best guess put out there though. Thanks.
Here's a couple more pics of this thing.

 

[DanMcG]

I think the gap between the two arms would be more suited for a piece of framing lumber more than a piece of siding. But I can't imagine when you would use it, and I got almost fifty years working with lumber.

 

[dozer dan]

Think we could get this measurment?