What ist?

Car boot sale yesterday,looking at this lump of metal on a stall but wanted two cold chisels she had for sale. A squid for the pair of cold chisels and storeholder threw in the 'lump' for nowt. (Not at me!)

Any ideas? About five inches long with a large twisted cross on one end and a smaller twisted cross on tuther. A large nut in between.

She thought it may be a bleed key for an old cast iron radiator? If it is I can't find a similar one on goggle.

Excuse piccies as my phone is pretty carp.

Vinny could it be a key to tighten the insert for the valve locking nut? not sure the correct name for the insert, but I think the tool resembles the type of key that's used for that radiator fitting

Its for winding the town hall clock.

MrPP wonders if it's a bevelled pinion for turning a cog, from a mill or press perhaps?

MrPP wonders if it's a bevelled pinion for turning a cog, from a mill or press perhaps?

I can't understand why it is, or needs to be twisted at each end though? I don't think a pin engagement could do that, not without heat so I assume it was manufactured twisted?

Its for winding the town hall clock.

Doubtful the town clock that I had in my bedroom used a thing like a starter handle

How big was your bedroom, Spec?

No idea. I showed Bob he doesn’t know either. It’s a very interesting lump .

He says they're twisted because it works at 90 degrees, connected to the bevelled gearbox, or something. Or maybe a spiral bevel gear, he's just said (he's been googling all evening, liking an engineering conundrum).

He says they're twisted because it works at 90 degrees, connected to the bevelled gearbox, or something. Or maybe a spiral bevel gear, he's just said (he's been googling all evening, liking an engineering conundrum).

Likewise PP! Just it bugs the excrement out of me when I can't find anything similar.I understand the principle of a crown wheel, pinion and planet gears but can't figure how this would equate?

I still fancy its a double ended key for something that needs a spanner on the large central nut to turn it, but still can't understand the twist? I don't think its been forged, more likely to be a cast steel lump methinks.

Where's Fred Dibner when you need him?