Unusual tool

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Amongst the items that the museum has inherited over the years is this tool which nobody can identify. It is very high quality, with ground surfaces, and might be used in a similar fashion to toolmakers clamps.

 

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I’ve always known it as a finger plate

Roy

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

If you are familiar with a fretsaw rest which typically has a V notch in order to ensure the wood is supported each side of the cut I think this is a simple hand vice with a plate similarly arranged to give support when filing or sawing thin metal.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

It must be unused, there are no signs of file or saw damage. I will see that one of our volunteers who runs the model club gets a look, it may be useful to them.

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

Don’t / didn’t ?Grobet (or) ?Vallorbe favour black ‘sausage-shaped’ handles for their piercing saws?

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

Hi,

Grobet finger plate – Search Images (bing.com)

 

[Diogenes]

On Diogenes Said:

Don’t / didn’t ?Grobet (or) ?Vallorbe favour black ‘sausage-shaped’ handles for their piercing saws?

It certainly has a Grobet look to it:

https://www.hswalsh.com/product/grobet-swiss-jewellers-piercing-saw-frame-fixed-ts122

MichaelG.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

I use my shop made version for holding small components when drilling them.

Bill

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Please forgive the digression, but I’ve just found this interesting little clip about using the piercing saw as a file:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMSgqgYb-PQ

MichaelG.

[Rod RenshawParticipant @rodrenshaw28584]

As Peak 4  Bill,

I am fairly sure I made mine after seeing a sketch in one of the ME mags or books. I find it quite useful, for smallish holes, and it was a nice quick satisfying thing to make.

Rod

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Mmm…. with “ground surfaces”.  That’s a bit grand for a Fretsaw rest.  With the tool in question in one hand (assuming that’s what the handle is for), and a Fretsaw in the other, fine control isn’t going to be the best.  Also, having to stop and unclamp the work frequently to advance the cut is likely to become somewhat arduous.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Clock making ?  Hold the gear with its shaft through the round hole. Hold the black handle and rest the vice end against the edge of the workbench and file the gear tooth to profile ??

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

There are no makers names anywhere on the tool and even the hole looks to have a ground surface. It could hold work up to 1/4″ thick. The rust is superficial and would be easy to remove.

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