What Is It? Tool Grinder?

[npalen]

Looks like it has its own drive system but not seeing the motor.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255668902786?hash=item3b870ddb82:g:yk0AAOSwRadi8n7y&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4OjotWxN%2BD6TVtHwc1u2picufDI0jBts8ykgM63jEyxZoOor5zSztA0goe%2Bkhfa62rH5HeTpdK7%2Fo3QQNorZRtIooTsaisDz7c%2FKZBAndBHTMIQhcU%2FWAaygwldWXdmgSDFtE%2BIuPWeiC9SXtontRVyStgnrc5kVTBF99DqwapCEe6UZkznBvVedMRyLthsFO8cAQTiM7BAfwt9PmxgXonQPxS%2FNZrHOlkkMoQzk%2BWwCICuD%2F7eDycgDxdgg5%2FW4YTeRdw5JDTEN0OBZd6byosAAOi8b6GVmRkHKgKHHe8%2Fe%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7Lf64PVYg

[Doozer]

I think pantograph related for some reason.
New Herms or Deckel.

-Doozer

[Richard P Wilson]

So even the vendor has no idea what it is?

[Doozer]

Yeah, The aluminum, self centering vise is the kind used a lot of pantographs,
so hence my thoughts in that direction.

-D

[vectorwarbirds]

I believe Mr. Doozer is correct. Look for Gravograph/Machine Tools West (MTW on tool). "We created the compact Pantograph Machine that revolutionized engraving in the United States in 1938, with Gravograph"

[DR]

My thought is some kind of special fixture for holding parts being ground, possibly tooling for Swiss style lathes.

[portlandRon]

This engraving is on the side of the vice: THV and MTW

[MichaelP]

Easy. It's an MTW product called
CHUCK DIVIDING HEAD TAIL STOCK FACE LATHE MILLING Cnc Profile Grinder

[boslab]

It looks panto based and the vice added to utilise it as a grinding fixture by my estimate.
looks kind of like a trophy head to me, it’s not a ring fixture but a curved surface head may be what it is, my panto is Taylor Hobson ( also of carry on rank films fame, the gong at the start was papier mache I was told, rank Taylor Hobson made collimeters, bare breasted Barbara Windsor and precision prisms, what a mix!)
gravograph seems a good guess, I’ve not seen toothed belts on any other engravers
mark

[DR]

There's an odd thing about this fixture. It has a conventional v-belt pulley to drive the mechanism. And a v-belt has to have sufficient rpm to be effective in driving. But that imprecise rotation via a v-belt can't be counted on to coordinate any motion in the cogged belt driven portion of the mechanism with whatever drives it. So I think it's some kind of holding fixture, possibly for grinding. But it doesn't show any evidence of grinding or guarding of the cogged belt from grinding swarf.

[npalen]

Might be conceivable that the the v-belt pulley is being used as a makeshift handwheel to operate the vise fixture but that would seem to be a stretch. It is hard to imagine, however, that the vise fixture would be driven by a motor and belt to the pulley. May have to enlist help from Sherlock on this one.

[Tobias-B]

To me, it looks like 2 things that got stuck together because the hole on one was the right size for the socket on the other.

As just about anyone with kids can testify, if it'll go together, why not try it?

t

[Noitoen]

Also strange is the use of timing pulleys to sync the 2 movements at a 90º angle.

[npalen]

Also strange is the use of timing pulleys to sync the 2 movements at a 90º angle.

Yeah, don't believe I had ever seen that done previously.