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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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Thread Tools |
16th Aug 2020, 7:43 pm | #1 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dundee, UK.
Posts: 158
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Unusual item
What is this?
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16th Aug 2020, 7:50 pm | #2 |
Hexode
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 382
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Re: Unusual item
It is a key for removing some kind of security device that instead of having a screwdriver slot just had two holes that engage with the two prongs of your key. In the radio context, I have seen epicyclic ball drives that need this type of tool for easy dismantling.
Regards, Roger |
16th Aug 2020, 9:49 pm | #3 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dundee, UK.
Posts: 158
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Re: Unusual item
Thanks, wonder what for.
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16th Aug 2020, 10:34 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,554
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Re: Unusual item
I wonder if those prongs are the correct spacing for the slots on a Plessey MK4 connector insert ring?
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16th Aug 2020, 11:47 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
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Re: Unusual item
Pretty sure I've seen smaller ones used for battery covers in hand portables.
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17th Aug 2020, 10:46 am | #6 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,289
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Re: Unusual item
Yes. Used on the intrinsically safe version of Pye Pocketfone PF1's.
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17th Aug 2020, 12:01 pm | #7 |
Pentode
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 147
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Re: Unusual item
I seem to recall something like that for removing lens adapter rings on SLR cameras.
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17th Aug 2020, 12:51 pm | #8 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,130
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Re: Unusual item
Also used for opening some types of miners safety lamp. The key was kept in the above ground lamp room thereby deterring opening of a lamp below ground.
UK miners lamps were often opened by an electromagnet, fitted to a work bench and controlled by a foot pedal. Overseas a key such as that illustrated was common. Applicable to both oil and electric safety lamps. |
17th Aug 2020, 1:41 pm | #9 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Royal Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 471
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Re: Unusual item
I have a very similar device sat in a drawer, it's used for tightening the collar on panel mounted potentiometers (the kind of mountings with a slot either side of the hole), as opposed to the usual nut.
It saves damaging the finish of an otherwise nice/expensive bit of kit. Mark
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17th Aug 2020, 2:14 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,007
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Re: Unusual item
They're used for all sorts of things - as mentioned, for the battery-packs on Pye IS radios (I remember them on the PF"-series), and I've got a very similar thing designed to tighten 'collet knobs' onto their spindles.
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17th Aug 2020, 3:16 pm | #11 |
Triode
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 33
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Re: Unusual item
Looks like a spike installation key for golf shoes.
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17th Aug 2020, 3:50 pm | #12 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,532
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Re: Unusual item
Although not exactly the same, a similar tool is required for a particular type of security fixing. Equivalent of a flat blade screwdriver with the centre part of the blade ground away to give a similar looking tool.
I needed to order some longer ones that the standard but kits come with (the screws are down deep holes) but what to search for. Apparently called spanner bits. Yep new to me too. |
17th Aug 2020, 5:31 pm | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
Posts: 5,273
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Re: Unusual item
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Kevin |
17th Aug 2020, 7:02 pm | #14 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dundee, UK.
Posts: 158
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Re: Unusual item
The lady who asked to find out what this was reckons that this is what it was as her late husband was a golfer.
Thanks to everyone. |
17th Aug 2020, 7:32 pm | #15 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Burntwood, Staffordshire, UK or Kabaty in Warsaw Poland.
Posts: 439
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Re: Unusual item
My mate at work's got one, its for those collar type ring nuts that are used to secure a device to a panel. They have an indentations 180° apart, for example a DIN connector or a switch.
Last edited by Pilot Mariner; 17th Aug 2020 at 7:39 pm. |
17th Aug 2020, 9:16 pm | #16 |
Hexode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany
Posts: 462
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Re: Unusual item
Although my vote is for the golf gadget, too, I would like to add that there were similar tools (but smaller with "J" shape pins for pulling up a telescopic car antenna of the 60s.
Regards, Joe |
17th Aug 2020, 9:30 pm | #17 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,532
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Re: Unusual item
Oh yes, though you are right it isn't one of these. Car aerials had a variety of things including forks like this and even circular types. But the all had a hole so you could add them to your car's keyring.
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