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Antiques & Collectibles

What is this antique - MYSTERY? Horse Racing or Science Lab?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

What is this? Could start 8 stopwatches - or be some science lab item -- antique well made wood brass & screwed together -- has "deluxe" on the inside case and some type of plaque on outside -- which is missing -- just the marks are left... Might have been used at a horse track... Or in a science lab... Any ideas??? When you turn the handle on side -- all 8 levers move smoothly and slowly to each 8 brass plates.... Maybe some kind of a salesman sample test perhaps??

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Comments (11)

jemdandy
9 years ago
Are the tabs adjustable to fit different sized watches? This assumes this is a watch holder.

It appears to be a device for simultaneously starting up to 8 watches at the same time. Also, it could stop up to 8 watches simultaneously.

There is something written in pencil on the metal backplate at each station, apparently an identity for each device. This may provide a clue as to how it was used.

Guesses:
1. A race timer for field and track or horse race events. The coordinator starts all watches at the beginning of race. Each watch is assigned to a lane. After the start, aides each takes a watch and times the finish of his assigned individual.
2. A test fixture: Stop watches are checked against a master timer. All watches are started at the same time and all are stopped when the master times to a selected period. Each watch is checked against the master and needed adjustments, if any, are noted.
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Sombreuil
9 years ago
Homing pigeon racers might have use for a gaggle of stopwatches.
In a locked case.
Casey
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Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks -- I don't know much about horse racing (or homing pigeons) -- are "8 starters" / 8 racers common in anything? I know most hose tracks race 14 horses at a time. Good ideas -- yes, why does the box lock? ...maybe it was somehow for betting... I will try to get a better photo of each of the pencil markings around each brass holder -- but that might take a few days. I bought it in Princeton NJ -- where both sculling and lab work is common too -- wish the plaque was not removed...
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jemdandy
9 years ago
Why the locks?

Those are common latches and the locks use a very simple key. This style of lock does not provide much security. The main function of the lock is to prevent accidental opening of the latch. This style of latch isn't secure. An upward brushing action will open the latch if it is not locked. The box could be filled with a full set of expensive stop watches that could be dumped out.
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Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
looks like 6K or OK on each one
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Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
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Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
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Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
0
Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
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Harvey Cat
Original Author
9 years ago
Perhaps this was used to hack Railroad Pocket Watches... so they all matched...
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