What is this designed to do

[hthParticipant @hth]

 

Hi

I recently found this device, it has a Mercer .0005" dial indicator on it . There is a flat machined onto the bar directly beneath the dial probe .

Can anyone make a guess ?

 

It has the following crudely stamped onto the tag

 

THIS INDICATOR IS FITTED WITH A DIAMOND BUTTON PLEASE LOWER ONTO STORE DO NOT ALLOW TO DROP FREELY

Edited By hth on 09/05/2016 12:08:32

Edited By hth on 09/05/2016 12:10:42

[hthParticipant @hth]

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hmm…

The object being measured has an end otherwise the ejector would not work

I think it is for checking wigwams for a gooses bridle.
Or maybe a thingamajiggera

Cheers
John

Edit
The Mercer Indicator is very nice.

Edited By John McNamara on 09/05/2016 12:21:35

[RICHARD GREEN 2Participant @richardgreen2]

Looks like a Mk1 square ended Gangle pin adjuster……………………

The Mk2 was the Metric version…………………..

It had a diamond point because the Gangle pins are hardened……………………….but only on Wednesdays.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Hardness tester ?

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

I guess it's for gauging/checking the "STORE" onto which the diamond point should be lowered and not dropped.

A relic from the days when quality control was done at the factory, not by the purchaser.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Hopper on 09/05/2016 14:18:49:

I guess it's for gauging/checking the "STORE" …

.

Definition of "Aircraft Store" to maybe narrow things down just a little:

**LINK**

MichaelG.

[charadamParticipant @charadam]

It's a pedant attractor.

[RICHARD GREEN 2Participant @richardgreen2]

It dosen't look like a tractor………………..

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

In this case "store" is the resting location for the diamond tip when not in use, otherwise it would be "the store" It is a comparator of some sort.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by charadam on 09/05/2016 15:38:17:

It's a pedant attractor.

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

Does the label give any clues?

I'd guess it could be a fixture to check the height or swing of various objects mounted on a hollow shaft – camshaft of some type maybe? …not necessarily an engine camshaft.

Ed.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Ed Duffner on 09/05/2016 17:54:25:

Does the label give any clues?

.

Assuming that label = tag = affixed plate :

THIS INDICATOR IS FITTED WITH A DIAMOND BUTTON PLEASE LOWER ONTO STORE DO NOT ALLOW TO DROP FREELY

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by KWIL on 09/05/2016 16:16:50:

In this case "store" is the resting location for the diamond tip when not in use, otherwise it would be "the store"

.

Given that neither interpretation constitutes an English sentence … How do you know that with such apparent confidence ?

MichaelG.

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Looks like something to check wall thickness on a tube or pipe , maybe ammunition ?

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, assuming that the shaft with the black disc on, rotates and travels from L/R and or R/L, could it be for checking any oval-ness of tubes? I was also thinking some type of ammunition perhaps.

Regards Nick.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 10/05/2016 06:49:44

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by charadam on 09/05/2016 15:38:17:

It's a pedant attractor.

Oooh. So nothing to do with model engineering then.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 09/05/2016 14:42:03:

Posted by Hopper on 09/05/2016 14:18:49:

I guess it's for gauging/checking the "STORE" …

.

Definition of "Aircraft Store" to maybe narrow things down just a little:

**LINK**

MichaelG.

Including "nuclear bombs"? Yikes.

Could it be for checking deformation of used brass cartridges from aircraft machine guns prior to reloading then?

Measuring the diameter of the the main horizontal round bar might give a clue as to calibre?

Could be along the lines of a modern day "neck checker" used by home reloaders for small arms rounds?

Diamond tip on the dial gauge on the mystery machine suggests it is made for bulk production useage, without wear. Maybe wartime reloading? Any way to date the Mercer gauge to see if it fits wartime era etc?

What else would you use a diamond point for? Mass production environment or measuring very abrasive surfaces is all I can think of.

Edited By Hopper on 10/05/2016 07:53:08

[Martin PaffettParticipant @martinpaffett76960]

There are a couple of clues that suggest to me that it is not military (qualification – 37 years in RAF):

The label lacks any stores reference number/stock number. The DTI would have calibration information. It might have a "crow's foot", but not necessarilly.

The use of the word "PLEASE" – this would never happen in a military instruction!

Aircraft machine gun/canon spent cases are not reused.

The gap between the button and the anvil is clearly too large for measuring thin-walled ammo cases.

The anvil has a flat, which would negate measuring material thickness of a parallel tube.

Just random thoughts – doesn't help much – sorry.

MP

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

The use of the word "PLEASE" – this would never happen in a military instruction!

LOLz, we'll take that as conclusive then.

It seems we are back to "pedant attractor".

[Author]

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