Anyone know what this is?

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hobgobbln
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Anyone know what this is?

Post by hobgobbln »

It’s all cast. The ring is about 18” in diameter (I don’t have it in front of me to actually measure) and it’s separate from the base. It rolls on two pairs of bearings. There is a clamping bolt in the center of the base that locks it from spinning.

Guy picked this up from a flea market. The person he bought it from found it at some relatives house but didn’t know anything else about it. He asked me to sandblast it and turn it into a motorized display that holds whatever it was originally designed for. I just have no clue what that may have been.

Anyone know what this was
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Last edited by rmac on Thu May 19, 2022 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Bill Shields
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by Bill Shields »

Mr thinks it is a frame for a circular glass clock

As the glass rotates, it keeps time by way of a weighted hand.

Had a small one at home when I was a kid.
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
hobgobbln
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by hobgobbln »

Possible, but I don’t think that’s it. It’s not motorized. There doesn’t appear to be anything missing so it must have been manually positioned. Seems like some sort of rebuilding stand to me.
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Bill Shields
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by Bill Shields »

Ah..ok...seems quite plausible

The clock we had used a synchronous motor driving a rubber wheel that caused the disc to rotate and was totally hidden in the base.
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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Harold_V
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by Harold_V »

Could it have held a globe of Earth?

H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
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liveaboard
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by liveaboard »

The company still exists (they have a facebook page).
You could ask them I suppose.
hobgobbln
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by hobgobbln »

Harold_V wrote: Thu May 19, 2022 2:34 pm Could it have held a globe of Earth?

H
I suppose it’s possible. The only Motorcraft branded things I’ve ever heard of have been automotive related.
Bob D.
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by Bob D. »

It's a real head scratcher…. Must be Ford related, I don't think Motorcraft ever made anything not tied into Ford products.
Can't picture it as a tool. Maybe part of a dealership/parts dept. display. Probably not a counter item as it's intended to be screwed down.
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hobgobbln
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by hobgobbln »

Bob D. wrote: Fri May 20, 2022 9:22 am It's a real head scratcher…. Must be Ford related, I don't think Motorcraft ever made anything not tied into Ford products.
Can't picture it as a tool.
When I first saw it the thing that popped up into my head was a jig/positioner for rebuilding brake drums. I have no idea why I thought that since I’ve never rebuilt a drum, but that’s what stuck hahaha.

Along the ring there are three spots that seem like it would be to hold something. Two of the places protrude out from the ring and have grooves cut into them like something should slide into the grooves. The last point is a big Allen head set screw that seems like it would lock whatever went into it in place inside the ring. The guy who bought it has been asking around too and someone said they thought it was for rewinding stators. Seems really large for something like that, but I guess it’s possible?
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Bill Shields
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by Bill Shields »

IF REWINDING STATORS of that diameter..I would think that it is a bit lightweight....
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
hobgobbln
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by hobgobbln »

Bill Shields wrote: Fri May 20, 2022 10:41 am IF REWINDING STATORS of that diameter..I would think that it is a bit lightweight....
Agreed.
Bob D.
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Re: Anyone know what this is?

Post by Bob D. »

Motorcraft started in the 50's and ended in 1961 when Autolite was bought by Ford. The brand returned in 1972. I figure your item is from that 50's era.
Can it actually rotate 360? Looks like that nub on the rim would interfere.
I still think it is part of a display….. but what would be the point of it being able to be repositioned?
3/4" Juliet II 0-4-0
3/4" Purinton Mogul "Pogo"
3/4" Hall Class 10 wheeler
3/4" Evans Caribou/Buffalo 2-8-0
3/4" Sweet Violet 0-4-0
3/4" Hunslet 4-6-0
3/4" Kozo A3. Delayed construction project

1 1/2" A5 Camelback 0-4-0
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