Device

[REDWOOD]

Anyone knows anything about this tool I have had it for about 20 years but I'am sure it is a lot older than that
I done a bit of research and one end is called a handheld vice and the other end has a pulley with pawl and ratchet. I don't know what it was used for but someone did say probably the ship building industry but i would like to know exact use

 

[dpearce4]

looks painful to me

 

[Teemore]

It looks like a hand vice I have seen being used for tying fishing flies.

 

[BeeJayBee]

How big is it? Can you take another photo with a tape measure next to it?

 

[Little John]

My money would be on a line tensioner - for use when laying out plates, checking for straightness - that kind of thing. Nowadays done with laser theodolites ...

Basically the same idea as the orange line that brickies use when building walls. Only with something to clamp onto the steel.

... unless someone knows different ?

LJ

 

[pargyle]

Well ... I've no idea what it is (though Little John's idea sounds likely) but what you have, in cleaned condition, sold on ebay a couple of weeks ago for nearly £20 + postage !! Get polishing !!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOVELY-VINT...e&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557#ht_3537wt_1402

 

[Nige.Coll]

with the notch in the jaws i would agree some old line/cable tensioning tool.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Anyone knows anything about this tool I have had it for about 20 years but I'am sure it is a lot older than that
I done a bit of research and one end is called a handheld vice and the other end has a pulley with pawl and ratchet. I don't know what it was used for but someone did say probably the ship building industry but i would like to know exact use

It's an overhead power line tensioning vice. I have one in my workshop slowly decaying since its last use in anger n years ago.
Most 230/400volt electrical systems seem to be installed underground nowadays for security against theft.

 

[REDWOOD]

How big is it? Can you take another photo with a tape measure next to it?

Eight inches long

 

[REDWOOD]

It's an overhead power line tensioning vice. I have one in my workshop slowly decaying since its last use in anger n years ago.
Most 230/400volt electrical systems seem to be installed underground nowadays for security against theft.

Hey Well done, you solved the 20 year old mystery, cant wait to tell them in work tomorrow, thank you