Lets paly what is it!

[caboose]

Wasn't Tinker a shortstop for the Cubs, noted for starting double plays? Tinker to Evers to Chance.

[Russell in Tulsa]

MassAman, Yes that is a plumbers "Rope" for pouring a horizontal LEAD joint, not solder. And for your info, one that old may be asbestos. They are usually darker in color as we would soak in oil before using them. Just don't handle it too much as you don't want it to get the dust off of it near you or your family.
As to the gear thinga ma jig I have no idea.

[MikeK]

It is a homemade copy of Klipsich trip setter sorting tool for 20's era moving electric signage, as seen on theater marquees. The originals were cast bronze with an ebony tooth wheel. The two holes located the timing trip pins that held the setter for each individual lamp to the rotating drum switch. There were 41 (one blank + 40 "on" time delay positions. You are missing the small chime lever that tested each as they were sorted and put back in their storage trays.

Depending on the sign complexity, there were either 5 or 10 drums, each 7 to 21 slots high. The smallest model controlled a block of 11 watt sign bulbs 5 wide by 7 high. The largest (which could be duplexed, think Times Square) controlled a block of lamps 10 wide and 21 high. The blocks repeated around the marquis or building, wired in parallel. As the lamps blinked on and off, you got "moving or chasing" patterns or a message across multiple blocks.

On a special piece of Klipsich sign display planning paper, something like graph paper, you laid out the moving pattern. The paper then showed the time number setting (0-40) for each trip. It was up to the person setting the sign to manually count the vertical drum position that agreed with the layout paper, then the appropriate Klipsich trip was snapped in.

[Mitch//pa]

its a piece of wood with teeth on it

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

its a piece of wood with teeth on it

Made by Ben Franklin's DENTIST
Bill W.