What is this (Not the game)

[TheRic]

Here are some pictures of this item. I found it in a wall of a house I was remolding, 20 years ago. Never did find out what it is, or what it's used for. I put the engineers scale in for size reference (Yea, I know what that is).

[Thom2]

OOO OOOO OOO .... I KNOW I KNOW!!!!!!! (waves hand frantically)


it's a highway marker!!!!!

[Thom2]

actually .. it looks like a carpet stretcher to me .... but the hook doesn't make sense

[TheRic]

OOO OOOO OOO .... I KNOW I KNOW!!!!!!! (waves hand frantically)


it's a highway marker!!!!!

[crokett]

I'm guessing it pulls wood tight together - think flooring. The tacks go into something and the hook ratches another piece in close.

[Tequila]

actually .. it looks like a carpet stretcher to me .... but the hook doesn't make sense

I gotta agree on that one - it looks exactly like a carpet stretcher. Usually though a stretcher will push from behind - this one looks like it pulls toward the hook.

Does the mechanism have a racheting action? If so, does it ratchet closed (pulling the hook closer to the pad), or open (spreading the two apart)?

[TheRic]

actually .. it looks like a carpet stretcher to me .... but the hook doesn't make sense

I gotta agree on that one - it looks exactly like a carpet stretcher. Usually though a stretcher will push from behind - this one looks like it pulls toward the hook.

Does the mechanism have a racheting action? If so, does it ratchet closed (pulling the hook closer to the pad), or open (spreading the two apart)?

It's a carpet stretcher. Found 1 on Ebay asking price $10 with no takers.

Yea the hook always thru me as a carpet stretcher. I kept thinking along the line of pulling wood together, or ice blocks. Not sure how the thing is used with that hook.

There is a ratcheting mechanism on it, the rust buildup doesn't allow it to work smoothly. At first I didn't think it was a ratcheting, just a lock. but after closer inspection I realized the rust / pitted metal was keeping it from sliding smoothly. Maybe a little WD-40 will loosen it up. It does pull together. Which kind of makes sense with the hook in the direction it is.

Forgot to mention in the original post that there is raised lettering on the sides that says "The.Cady" (yes, a period in the middle) "Pat'd Nov 1 92", 1892 I'll guess 1792 seems to early for carpet, and I had it since before 1992

Any clue on how the hook is used? Maybe hooked into baseboard?? Or hooked to anther board with tacks in them?

[Russianwolf]

I would bet on a quick tap with a hammer on the hook to set it into the subfloor outside of the carpeted area and then the tack strip pulls the carpet to streatch it.

[mschrank]

I would bet on a quick tap with a hammer on the hook to set it into the subfloor outside of the carpeted area and then the tack strip pulls the carpet to streatch it.

You got it!

Results of a Google Patent Search (Google is so cool!)

[TB Roye]

I bet if it is as old as you think, the carpet was tacked to the sub floor (carpet tacks). I bet the tack strip didn't come until much later. The tool was used to pull the carpet tight and then carpet tacks were use to fasten it.

Tom

[jking]

My first guess was a carpet stretcher, too.

I'm also wondering if the hook would be set into the joint between subfloor boards?