OK, who knows what this is?

[6foottanker]

Whilst being Her Maj's representitive in the former colony of America, I was asked to attend the memorial of a former Second World War Spitfire and Beaufighter pilot.

Whilst there, the family asked me if I could identify some of the equipment which they had on display. Here's where you can be of assistance. I'm trying to identify the small box with the cord passing through it. It contains 2 rotating cams which look as though they fed something through the box, maybe ticker tape.

What do you think?

IMG_0854 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/100790638@N03/9592575310/)
IMG_0855 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/100790638@N03/9589780509/)

[NutLoose]

Pictures not showing

also ask here they are stunning at identifying parts

Historic Aviation (http://forum.keypublishing.com/forumdisplay.php?4-Historic-Aviation)

[Courtney Mil]

Too easy, Mate. Even without a photo (who needs it?) I could tell you exactly what that is.

[6foottanker]

Stupid upload

[Courtney Mil]

Do you have a picture that might help?

[CoffmanStarter]

Banana :ok:

Seriously 6FT ... would you like some help ?

[Sun Who]

The small box with the cord passing through it looks like it might contain 2 rotating cams which may feed something through the box - maybe ticker tape?

Does that help?

Sun;)

[6foottanker]

Stupid forward slash :*

[NutLoose]

Just pop the link

[CoffmanStarter]

Nope ... nothing here :ok:

[ORAC]

Allow me......

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/jvoc/9592575310_4004bce60a_c_zps83a9f987.jpg

[TomJoad]

Stupid BT Family Protection software thingy is blocking the image. Must be something really nasty like an NRV or instrument gauge:ugh:

[NutLoose]

Orac has it up

[SandyYoung]

Looks like two rows of magnets.

[Pontius Navigator]

I believe it has nothing to do with aviation and it looks very like what my father had one of these magic boxes made in Japan.

Strange though it may seem but it was a razor blade sharpener.

You put the old style double bladed razor blade in, closed the lid and moved the box up and down the cord, turn the blade over and repeat.

If the size is the same then that might be the answer. The magnets would collect any swarf.

[Courtney Mil]

Amazing, PN. Well done. Like this?

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/VINTAGE-BAKELITE-SAFETY-RAZOR-BLADE-SHARPENER-RAZORS-/22/!B-m4Fog!2k~$(KGrHqIOKo4Ey+jCw8O(BM9JqsBDz!~~_35.JPG

Or this...

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/military_photos/field-equipment-accessories-3-reich/265893d1321452601t-so-thats-what-its-for-img_9447.jpg

[Pontius Navigator]

There you go. Your's is obviously the more modern version circa mid-'50s.

[Danny42C]

Flew Spits Mks. I and II (training) during war, XIVs, XVIs (mostly) and XXIIs afterwards. Never saw the little thing in my life.

The goggles are no Service pattern that I can remember. Gauntlets look OK.
Can't place the canvas holdhall sort of thing.

D.

EDIT: Answer came in while I was pecking this out. Ah, well...D.

[CoffmanStarter]

There you go ... No limit to the collective power of PPRuNe ... Well played PN :ok:

[diginagain]

As one who prefers to use the double edged razor, I wonder if the sharpeners are still available?

[Pontius Navigator]

yeah, there is a guy over in the States with a single sided one and there is another guy on pprune with a modern version :E

Google Razor Blade Sharpener Antique. Here is one.

ANTIQUE BAKELITE RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER RACID on eBay! (http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/261002228913?var=lv&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&lpid=66)

I admit to being gobsmacked with the number on sale and note they are Russian, Czech and German and date from pre-war.

[diginagain]

Thanks, PN.:hmm:

I should have thought about that source. :ok:

[Danny42C]

Another kind had a sort of concave curve of ground glass in a small dish. You worked the old blade to and fro.

None of them worked - you just prolonged the agony.

Wilkinson's had a very crafty thing in the '60s; it had a built-in strop in the case, your (special pattern) blade, which had a similar profile to the old "Cut-throat", fitted into a holder and you could run it side to side of the case to strop it. Worked too, after a fashion, but in the end the only real solution was a new packet of blades, these were scarce and greatly prized.

Won one once (as a prize in a spot waltz). Only thing I ever won.

D.

[diginagain]

You may be referring to the "Rolls Razor" Danny42C, one of which I have, and use regularly. Blades do come up on ebay occasionally, but given their age require a little pre-treatment to get them into shape.

[onetrack]

The thread reminds me of the old Gillette (or was it Wilkinsons) Company reply to a letter from a soldier positioned in the deepest darkest area of a certain subcontinent, in the 1950's.
It was found that letters to various companies praising their products quite often produced free samples in reply.

One laddie went overboard with his praise to the razor blade maker - declaring that their products were so superb, that one razor blade had lasted him a whole 3 months, in the worst type of sub-continent conditions!
Eagerly awaiting a reply and possibly a box of free razor blades, said soldier was greatly pleased to receive a prompt reply from the company.

Upon opening the reply, he found the company had responded suitably with correspondence along the lines of;

"Dear Sir, we are delighted to hear of the exceptional performance of our product, and your sincere appreciation of it.
Please find included, 3 months further supply of our product". Naturally, there was one razor blade included! :)