Guess what this tool used for?

i know. It is a custom-made, unique tool with accessories. I don’t think anyone here will figure out purpose but some will want to try. Largest piece with two dark-colored strips, is abt a foot long. Cage-looking thing with brass rollers is about 5” long. Now go strain yer brain for a day or say, then I’ll tell ya.

 

I'll just say what my mother would say when she couldn't figure out what something was for.

It's for chickens.

 

Well, on the more difficult stuff I usually throw out some clues, so here’s first one on this. One could properly nickname this set “headshrinker” even though it has nothing to do with living things, either living or deceased. No connection with psychology either.

 

That's the fanciest set of Ikea tools I've ever seen!

 

Clue 2: The long thing with two dark strips can sharpen pencils in addition to what was built to do. The Headshrinker.

 

Clue 3: Cage-like thing is technically a chuck.

 

Is this a clue?

 

Yes but may not help much.

Clue 4: person who built the tool enjoyed building precise scale models of huge steam engines, etc. but this is a tool not a model.

 

Clue 5: Hope no one comes un-fastened when the tool is fully identified!

 

To reduce the head of a bolt/screw to fit the scale of the steam engine??

 

Couplers?

 

Absolutely! We have a winnah!

The shiny things in the box hold the various sizes of nuts or bolts on end of the cage thing (chuck.). The parallelogram long thing and chuck are put on a very flat surface, the long thing cranked up vertically so the workpiece engages the abrasive, and the chuck moved back and forth to grind away one side of the hex head. Long thing cranked up gradually until one side of hex is at proper dimension, then chuck rotated to next side, abrasive platform cranked back down. Etc.

 

Ah-haaa ... I did put the puzzle together correctly!

 

If I ever go to a trivia contest where they show weird tools, I'm sure to win after the education I'm getting here!