Not just one mystery item, but HUNDREDS!

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi All,

Just got back from an auction with this weeks haul, one of those times when you have to take loads of junk in order to get the things you want.

Started sorting through one lot with some nice stuff then came across these, scattered all over the place! Obviously very well made parts for something or other but why do they all have different numbers?

In the same lot were boxes of Hoffman ball bearings so that may be a clue? Any help or ideas will be, as usual, most welcome! Cheers, Martin

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Perhaps that is the serial number for the finished item.

Clutching at straws, there is a possibility that the 74 prefix is the year (making 74,000 of something seems less probable somehow).

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

..it’s been a long time, and the memory could be tricksy, but ‘petrol pump’ springs immediately to mind – I mean the retail forecourt kind..

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Go/no-go guages

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

I guess gauges too.  What’s the hole diameter?   Be nice if it was about 0.74″!

A possible bearing connection is that it’s important that the balls in each individual bearing all be the same size.  The race is less critical.  Expensive bearings contain closely matched balls, so maybe these are selecting gauges.  Used to sort a large batch of balls of nominal size 0.7467″ into near match groups before assembly.

My worry is that tenths of a tenth is unrealistically precise.  Many practical difficulties making and using them.

If they are tenths of tenths differences, then compare 75583 with 74758, hopefully finding an 8 thou difference between the extremes.

Another possibility is they are individually numbered gauges, each issued with it’s own calibration chart.

Dave

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

In Martin’s second photo, comparing the clearance between the edge of the main hole and the edges of the countersunk holes does suggest differing main hole sizes. Would be interesting to know what the numbers were on those two.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Strange to make such finely graduated gauges from what looks like yellow metal. Also the closeness of countersunk holes to the measuring faces doesn’t suggest ultra precision.

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

Weigh them in!!

CG

[Charles LamontParticipant @charleslamont71117]

Are they brass, phosphated or anodised (or something else)?

Part of a lock – hence key numbers?

[cogdobblerParticipant @cogdobbler]

Could be aircraft parts, numbered for purposes of source of origin?

As the numbers are sequential, unlikely to relate to size etc.

[peter1972Participant @peter1972]

I agree with DC31k: they are a part of a production item that includes the serial number. I guess they were left over after the end of a production run.

They are certainly not gauges in my view!

[howardbParticipant @howardb]

“..it’s been a long time, and the memory could be tricksy, but ‘petrol pump’ springs immediately to mind – I mean the retail forecourt kind..”

and

“Strange to make such finely graduated gauges from what looks like yellow metal”

Tools/gauges for use in the vicinity of petrol or petrol fumes are made of brass/bronze – it’s non sparking.

Maybe a connection there.

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

The bearings and these brass thingummyjigs may be related only as being components in the same finished product. Whatever that was.

Seems a bit odd serial numbering these, even if the number is of the complete machine. I’d have thought a small partt like this would more likely bear a part-number, perhaps comprising some reference to the entire entity, but the same number on every one of them. The numbers look machine-stamped or engraved, too.

“Made in England” stamped on each. (We need more of that!) I wonder why? It suggests these brass plates were visible to the user, part of an outer casing perhaps, not just to the assembly staff.

[Clive Brown 1]

On Clive Brown 1 Said:

Strange to make such finely graduated gauges from what looks like yellow metal. Also the closeness of countersunk holes to the measuring faces doesn’t suggest ultra precision.

Absolute precision is not required, so much as the differences, for matching sizes for high-precision bearings.

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

..a unique identifier is desirable on any metering equipment requiring calibration/certification isn’t it?

..and likely ‘essential’ on one subject to scrutiny by revenue authorities..?

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Very unlikely I think to be any sort of gauge, because why all the holes?  The csk holes certainly suggest they would be secured to something.  As already alluded to, the serial numbers suggest a component that requires traceability.  Possibly military, aerospace or nuclear, etc.

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Wow! There’s food for thought!

They are made of brass; I do not have anything to measure the diameter of the holes to anything like that sort of precision, although funnily enough in another lot is a complete set of really nice MERCER internal hole micrometers with standards, but nothing that small.

The time and trouble to engrave each of these plus Made in England speaks to something of quality I think.

Pretty sure these will go in the brass scrap bin, what a shame!

Thanks to all for the input, much appreciated as always.

Cheers, Martin

[Diogenes]

On Diogenes Said:

..a unique identifier is desirable on any metering equipment requiring calibration/certification isn’t it?

..and likely ‘essential’ on one subject to scrutiny by revenue authorities..?

Also if the item is worth stealing!  Serial numbers are for traceability, though this series could be measurements.

They look ordinary, but probably aren’t.  I suspect gauge in the widest sense, perhaps fitted inside a dispensing machine: chemicals, food-processing, pharmaceuticals, fuel management, x-rays, or something taxable like a petrol pump (see Howard’s post).  Not a production or workshop gauge.

Corrosion resistance might mean an expensive alloy, return to store!  Or nuclear : radioactive after use requiring special disposal.

Clues:

• Came jumbled with Hoffman ball-bearings in an auction lot.  Coincidence?
• I guess the big hole is the important feature.
• The 3 counter-sunk holes suggest the item was screwed to a plate.
• The 4 small threaded holes suggest a cover
• The 2 larger threaded holes suggest a gizmo fixed inside the cover.  Thermostat, switch, or sensor maybe.
• It’s special : individual numbering is expensive, rarely applied to off-the-shelf parts, and there’s no Part Number, so these were obvious to the owner or supplied in a kit.
• “Made in England” means it was exported.  (Country of origin markings are rarely flag waving guarantees of quality. They’re required when an export destination applies import controls to boost their local industry.)
• The finish suggests corrosion resistance.

Dave

[Ches Green UKParticipant @chesgreenuk]

I found a look-alike on eBay….  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295618385626   The description doesn’t give much away.

Similar items in this ‘image lookup’ result …. https://www.google.com/search?vsrid=CKuAib_V2e358AEQAhgBIiRhY2MzZTMzNS04NWVmLTQ1ZmQtYjRiYS02M2Y2MDZjNWE2ZTQyBiICd2UoEzia_ZKK5oeQAw&vsint=CAIqDAoCCAcSAggKGAEgATojChYNAAAAPxUAAAA_HQAAgD8lAACAPzABEJ8GGO0FJQAAgD8&udm=26&lns_mode=un&source=lns.web.gisbubu&vsdim=799,749&gsessionid=iR0erd9KLg_gxjgE0n6sFw9QhmZdhyJL5UwgQWmS5crNrDIX-mhgVQ&lsessionid=GMjT88VoZaVVZE48Por7Fqx9BJvIDh3yNF59f9Duxh5SrsK45BOqSw&lns_surface=26&lns_vfs=e&qsubts=1759486522314&biw=1600&bih=850&hl=en-GB&sei=PKLfaOWjGvzZ7M8Ps_u24A8

I haven’t sifted through these yet. Might be something in there?

Ches

Edit. Martin, I take it there isn’t a tapped hole on the bottom straight face of those parts? Ah, I see from your first image there likely is not.

 

 

 

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Are they brass or titanium nitride coated? The size varies by only 0.00001″, I think they are gauges for ball bearings. Try a file to one if you think they are brass.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Now we are getting there ??

Another component of the riddle ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295618354455?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D293423%26meid%3Dd82cea3f92ff411eb08e894f609e2336%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D295618385626%26itm%3D295618354455%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQuerySemanticBroadMatchSingularityRecallReplaceKnnV4WithVectorDbNsOptHotPlRecallCIICentroidCoviewCPCAuto%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A295618354455d82cea3f92ff411eb08e894f609e2336%7Cenc%3AAQAKAAABgG96wQ16jds4VFcrhy1F3d4mbwZUJI9Fs%252BgdXYAHIzlX2e3YaNh7x%252BEnKA3G%252BCqSl1Xn4McfcWFK1GytmS2qxJ87mtE8Gm3iR1Ja4WBwh0hNHJrJx3Ki5mp04ow4CO7lP%252BooCybZDDU%252BbbSwmg7CbTin%252BBzBzbCYVnbjvyQAHu6–HI4MB7SvJl5IJqlyvomgoLMlgT6qAJzX0SANJhty2emTUTIJeSFaCqKeNbEptzvXANl7QymbcwwAFS87f5NbpmECZnrNdQP9bswcqBt4KXyVz2s58ZSU7WHZncuJE8a7XXieI67sD3KIhUzX2ZyBDN%252F3LwzDrNHXgYfA6aLFm0O3Wpdw2Htl0UoSz1KEAMfD%252BN2D65w1H4Jy%252FF4QtJ5tJ3Rl2RdcuNhpTjYvDB8IdEt7B39x%252BC4SuffI1PPjHk5BTLu8llZSaXqP2gty%252F1e6Vx0Cf26mnOOe5Bmh60u09KyJHZvxgi4ZhlBwRw%252F7xGqkKGQSCjB55nzyciYw00Dfw%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01K6ZKGTA05XHDA9YD4FR25WYP

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Also these serial numbered plates appear in the other ebay link but with what looks like a bush in the larger round hole, an adjusting screw on its edge and elongated smaller holes.

bob

[not done it yet]

On not done it yet Said:

On Clive Brown 1 Said:

Strange to make such finely graduated gauges from what looks like yellow metal. Also the closeness of countersunk holes to the measuring faces doesn’t suggest ultra precision.

Absolute precision is not required, so much as the differences, for matching sizes for high-precision bearings.

The discussion has progressed since my earlier post, but the reason that I drew attention to the countersunk holes was that the mere act of tightening countersunk fasteners in such close proximity to a sub-micron gauge surface would be likely to distort the measurement. Not good practice in my view.

[Clive Brown 1]

On Clive Brown 1 Said:

[…] but the reason that I drew attention to the countersunk holes was that the mere act of tightening countersunk fasteners in such close proximity to a sub-micron gauge surface would be likely to distort the measurement. Not good practice in my view.

Dare one ask ?

Has Martin actually measured the bores … or is it just a working assumption regarding the numbering ?

MichaelG.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

The ebay items by seller Apex engineering are parts from a linear slide unit. Specifically the end blocks supporting the lead/ball screw or guide rod and the one similar to the OP’s is the support for the travelling nut.
But the OP’s could be anything. Brass does suggest an instrument of some sort though anodised aluminium is more comm these days. possibly a mount for a optical coponent with an integral flange.

Robert.

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