UBB.threads Forums General Militaria United States Militaria Identify This US Army Tool

When I was in the Army, I was issued a very interesting tool in 1965 or 1966. Can you identify it ?

It is 3" long

Body is hard plastic or Bakelite

At one end there is a knurled knob

At the other end a fitting with a collar that unscrews

More photos later if the GDC Experts fail to ID it.

Dave

so when you turn that thumb screw the brass piece at bottom falls out?

Gaspare,

See below. Storage area.

The other end is a pin vise. The collar unscrews.

it would great for me as a grip/hand vise to hold a small jet cleaning bit. Similar to a drill bit used for old carburetors to clean their many jets or to hold a mini ream or even a mini tap!.

But as a U.S. Army issue piece? That bakelite handle have anything to do with it?

Gaspare,

No. The handle could be made of anything.

It was a Signal Corps / Ordnance Corps tool.

Note that in the 1960's the Ordnance Corps had many roles. Besides delivering explosives / bullets / etc, It repaired everything from truck engines to missiles. I went to the Ordnance Guided Missile School at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville Alabama to learn to maintain Nike Hercules radar. The tool shown above was issued to me for that use.

Dave

PS - Pin vises are not hard to find

That's interesting Dave, Thanks

It has a number stamped on the side.

Anyone even got a guess ?

yes I have a few jet and bit pin vise's..


its a Radar cradermer.!!!!. Yes, there is patent drawing for it and everything...




Joking...

You got me. I was thinking something to do with electrical with the bakelite handle... But you say handle could be anything even metal... SO ok,,what is it..

It is a tool for maintenance of electrical components. These components were not only found on 1960's radar, but in other military and non-military applications.

Dave

you gotta do better than that! ,,, How was it used?

Here are the 'tools' that are stored inside the body. They are attached to the body by inserting them in the pin vice.

for cleaning contacts of some sort,,or cleaning,, opening orifices?

You are getting very close Gaspare.

These are the last two photos.

Well after much looking I have decided that it falls under the category of a WIDGET

Or maybe a framitz ?

Tools look like files or feeler gauges.
Possible check contact gaps, or clean contacts??
The old thingamajig.
Ed

feeler gauge! You got it Ed,,,, a burnisher.........

Ed got it first - It is a Contact Tool sometimes called a contact burnisher

The Nike-Hercules system had a lot relays that were used to make or break circuits. The relays were operated by coils and they had contacts much like an old telegrapher's Morse code key. After much operation there was a carbon build-up on the contacts.

The next to last picture above shows a very thin metal leaf covered in diamond dust. You stuck that between the contacts, then held the contacts gently closed, and moved the metal leaf back and forth.

There were also interlocks on most of the doors that disabled everything for safety if the door was opened. It saved the curious from electrocution. Those interlock contacts had to be cleaned occasionally.

Wow?
I hope the prize is a nice DLV flyers knife.
Thanks Dave for the fun.
Ed