any idea what this is I simply must know???

[Alistair Hosie]

C'mon guys any ideas ? I don't know either but I know abunch of geniuses who might. ????? Alistair

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1886-RARE-WOODWORKING-VICE-MACHINE_W0QQitemZ200396292028QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectable_ToolsHasdware_RL?hash=item2ea88cbfbc

[TGTool]

Very much ahead of its time and thus never caught on, but it's obviously the press for screen printing T-shirt slogans in Victorian times. As nobody would appear in public wearing an undershirt as an outer shirt (distinct contrast with our times when any article of clothing may be displayed) the personal and political statements made never got in the news and the trend failed.

[lugnut]

I have never seen one. You should buy it, then you'll have a very rare "what ever it is". Maybe the only one left.
Mel

[hoof]

It's a miter saw for cutting 45 degree angles. One of the two wings clamp the board against the block on the botton and the part at the top guide the saw

[boslab]

i have seen something like this bout 40 years ago, in a saddlers shop, it was somthing to do woth the frame of the saddle called the 'tree' [English saddle that is], not saying it is but it looks awfully similar to the thing on his bench.
mark

[Yankee1]

I'll Guess

Possibly for tire repair perhaps bicycle tires.
Yankee1

[philbur]

My advice would be that if you don't know what it is, you probably shouldn't bid on it.
Phil

[lynnl]

First thing that came to my mind was maybe something used by OBGYN's long, long ago.

...but that's probably not it.

[john hobdeclipe]

It's a jig for forming and trimming hatbands for tinfoil hats.

[andy_b]

i think it is put together wrong and laying on its front. i think the Y-shaped piece should line up with the angled metal piece it clamps to and the part sticking up with the three bolts in it gets bolted to your workbench. what it's for, i have no idea.

andy b.

[jdleach]

Whatever it is, it expired on April 19th of 1886. Probably 'cause of taxes on the 15th.

[2ManyHobbies]

$0.50 on something leather related. Maybe shoes, maybe not.

If that isn't it, it is another wazzat or athingmahoozit like what my next of kin will drag to the street in some (hopefully distant) day in the future.