I.D. Help Needed!

Ok...here it is. The piece that no one has a clue as to what it is/does. At one of my local antique stores we've been racking our brains trying to figure this one out. Hopefully someone on here can help identify it. It can be tightened like a vice. The handle goes up and down vertically. The markings Wm. Pau, Buckhorn, and Columbia County PA all lead to no where. We've also tried Wm. Paul and Wm. Pau/Paul Buckhorn. Many hours invested. Thank you in advance!

 

Welcome to the forum.
I don’t know about tools, but I think it says Wm. Rau.
Which may be the owner, not the maker. Just an opinion, maybe look for marks on the metal parts.

 

No markings anywhere but thank you for the reply!

 

Someone else will probably be along to help you.

 

Is the arm metal or wood? Is that a blade attached to it?

 

Not a blade. Arm is metal and wood.

 

I found a few mentions of a William Paul who had a carpenter shop in the area. Google book search: Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania.

No idea if it's related.

 

Tools we usually refer to @springfld.arsenal

 

reminds me of a tobacco chopper.....on steroids.....

 

Hi Rob, welcome!

It doesn't spark any ideas with me but I wondered if it would be possible to see it with the handle up. It might be helpful to see the blade or whatever is in the center.

 

Agreed, I was actually planning on adding that pic today. Thank you!

 

Hi,
Looks like a cabbage chopper. Especially from eastern Penna. Need some really sturdy to chop cabbage heads into sauerkraut.
greg

 

Hi thank you for the idea. I'll check out other cabbage choppers but this has no blade (just a blunt edge) and tightens like a vise. It has no useage wear marks like it was used to bludgeon either. More pics to come of the handle in a vertical position.

 

Hmmm I haven’t seen one of those! Looks like another handle is missing from hole where price tag hangs. Something important was there anyway, or the maker wouldn’t have made that upper frame structure on the “blade” which increased the time and cost to make the tool. Agree that “Rau” is likely the name.

 

Yes I forgot to mention that it likely did have another handle. Very good observation. Also, I've searched Wm. Rau...he was a well-known photographer for the railroads in the area.

 

I'm not sure that the spacing between the P and A is sufficient room for the front "leg" of an R based on the other letters nor are there any remnants of paint where that leg would've been but it's definitely possible it is an R and not a P.

 

The base is wood with morticed legs. The vise section is wood. The handle is completely cast iron exept for the section the looks like a blade pointing upward, that section is wood and I believe is a vital component to the use of the tool or else why would it be there. The bottom edge of the handle is shaped similar to the top side. More pics to come.

 

If it doesn't cut, could it stamp? It reminds me of an antique printing or stamping machine.

 

I was entertaining the idea that it could've been some sort of a form press. Good thought. Thank you.

 

Yeah. If a handle goes up and down, I usually think it's going to cut something or leave an impression on it.