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Thread: A couple "what the heck is this" items

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Question A couple "what the heck is this" items

    Have had a pile of stuff sitting in a box in a corner of the shop for a couple years now and these items have me perplexed. Google image search turned up nothing useful so I figure with the wealth and diversity of knowledge here, someone will have a clue. Thanks in advance.

    Item #1:
    IMG_20171013_165413.jpg IMG_20171013_165322.jpg

    It looks like the prong thingy is not supposed to be bent and the only text on it is "Made in England".

    Item #2
    IMG_20171013_165535.jpg IMG_20171013_165549.jpg IMG_20171013_165653.jpg

    When you turn the handle the shaft oscillates back and forth in what seems to be a random degree of rotation, none of which are more than 90. The last pic is the end of the shaft and my suspicion here is that what's attached is not original.

    Any clues?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    Item 1 is a juice harp or Jew's harp. It's a musical instrument held in the mouth, plucked with a finger.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  3. #3
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    Very interesting. Thanks Ken.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Fitzgerald View Post
    Item 1 is a juice harp or Jew's harp. It's a musical instrument held in the mouth, plucked with a finger.
    +1. Havent seen one of those since Grandpa passed.

  5. #5
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    I used to be pretty good on the Jew's harp, and still have one somewhere. Goes against the lips, not the teeth. Hurts when you catch your tongue in there. They still sell them, but they are now called a more PC, 'Mouth Harp'

    Item #2, from the description sounds like it would work like a Yankee Screwdriver, or a push drill. They use a self cleaning bit that only rotates half turn or so, then reverses. Of course this is only a WAG.
    Rick Potter

    DIY journeyman,
    FWW wannabe.
    AKA Village Idiot.

  6. #6
    the jaw harp made sort of a boing boing noise which was often used with some bluegrass and country-folk music.

    The other item I believe is an old valve grinder for seating valves during an engine overhaul back in the very old days. see here: https://www.etsystudio.com/listing/5...ve-grinder-for

  7. #7
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    Taylors, SC
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    Thanks everyone for the responses. Ken nailed the first one and I believe Perry nailed the second. Perry's links appears to be exactly what this thing is. I'm quite sure I would have never guessed correctly on either one.

    Thanks to all!

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Fitzgerald View Post
    Item 1 is a juice harp or Jew's harp. It's a musical instrument held in the mouth, plucked with a finger.
    Recognized it immediately. Brings back good memories of dad playing one
    Steve Jenkins, McKinney, TX. 469 742-9694
    Always use the word "impossible" with extreme caution

  9. #9
    I had one when I was a kid. Without a microphone only the player can hear it, think that's why Dad let me have one.

  10. #10
    https://www.soundsnap.com/tags/jews_harp

    I've always known them as 'juice' harps, and associated them with hillbilly and banjo music
    ========================================
    ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
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  11. #11
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    Not sure what ever became of my juice harp.

    I once worked for a small auto shop called Packard of California for a short time and there was one of those old valve grinder tools there.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  12. #12
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    The bottom one looks like a wire tying tool for rebar.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frederick Skelly View Post
    +1. Havent seen one of those since Grandpa passed.
    I’ve still got water :-)
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  14. #14
    I think the second one is a tool used years ago to grind valves in engines and to knurl the valve guides or something like that.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Koepke View Post
    Not sure what ever became of my juice harp.
    Just a few months ago I got a new one at a local music store. That is probably the least expensive musical instrument I've ever bought!

    JKJ

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