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"What is it?" #56

1934 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  reible, 
R
OK now you can really shine on this one by tell us what it is and how it works or even what it does. 100 points for the first complete correct answer.

Now something is missing from the tool, I need to get somemore of these but I can't seem to find them anymore. If you can point me to a site or place that can supply that item I send along 100 points for that answer.

But wait, if someone can tell me about how much one of these went for new back in the '40's I throw in 100 points for that too. If you have a scanned image or can reference a web page as proof I'll up that to 150 points. BTW I know how much these went for so only real answers please.

Ed

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C
It appears to be a hot-wire cutter.

It's used to cut foam (from when I've seen it used). The wire heats up, then you can guide the wire through a peice of foam.

Christian
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Dr.Zook
Ed where did you get this. I have never seen one, but it looks like a electric coping or fret saw. I don't know where you would find blades for it tho. You're talking 60 yrs old.
If I'm right, you pull the trigger? and the coil is a magnet. causing the blade bar to be pulled down. The upper bar causes it to go up. Thus causing a cutting action by viberation. I have an old scroll saw that works this way, but I can still get blades for mine.
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Mike
I think you are right Dr Zook. Its a new one on me. The solenoid is very similar to one used in electric door strike plates. I can see this being a handy power tool. Ed, I'm guessing the blade is short with a pin in each end? HD has some shorter than normal coping saw blades; if you found blades with the right attaching ends you could take them to a shop having a bandsaw blade welder and they could hook you up.
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steveo
Ed, used to have one of these, but like the "stamped" wrenches that come with some tools, I stepped out of the shop door and threw it as far as I could when it went completely "kaput". I think it was made by "WEN" or some similar short mfgr name.I saw the real manual (couple of sheets) that came with it a year or so ago around here, but who the heck knows where its at now. I will take CIS to find it around here. Its an electric "jig saw". I retired it when I acquired a table mounted jig saw made by Syncro in my early teens. By the way early this morning I found some blades for it, they are exactly 3 inches long, only one tooth design, fine.
what ya got to trade?
steveo
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W
Hi: It's an electric scroll saw. Just a guess but I think they went for 20-30 dollars in the fourties.
Woodnut65
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R
Dr.Zook said:
Ed where did you get this. I have never seen one, but it looks like a electric coping or fret saw. I don't know where you would find blades for it tho. You're talking 60 yrs old.
If I'm right, you pull the trigger? and the coil is a magnet. causing the blade bar to be pulled down. The upper bar causes it to go up. Thus causing a cutting action by viberation. I have an old scroll saw that works this way, but I can still get blades for mine.
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Winner
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I saw these in the old woodworking mags we had around home, I think they even had them in comic books...... All this for $4.95! If it wasn't so cold I'd go out and bring in a few magazines to find an ad and post it here but....... This one doen't have a brand stamped on it and if it were a label that would be long gone. I was able to get blades for a long time at Sears but then one day they were no longer carried..... imagine that!

It worked best on 1/8" or 1/4" wood.... if you are old enough to remember how they use to "crate" things in wooden boxes for the grocery stores and then they would throw that good wood away..... well what ever I couldn't cart away in my little arms.....

OK I got some points on the way, thanks for playing "What is it?"

Ed

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steveo said:
Ed, used to have one of these, but like the "stamped" wrenches that come with some tools, I stepped out of the shop door and threw it as far as I could when it went completely "kaput". I think it was made by "WEN" or some similar short mfgr name.I saw the real manual (couple of sheets) that came with it a year or so ago around here, but who the heck knows where its at now. I will take CIS to find it around here. Its an electric "jig saw". I retired it when I acquired a table mounted jig saw made by Syncro in my early teens. By the way early this morning I found some blades for it, they are exactly 3 inches long, only one tooth design, fine.
what ya got to trade?
steveo
Click to expand...
I think several companies made these. This one has no indication on it but I know it is an earier model....... WEN was a make of tools for everyman at least in the price sort of way, so it could have been one of theirs.

Blades hey.... How about I slip you the answer to number 60?????? Maybe we can work something out....

Ed
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R
Dr.Zook said:
Ed where did you get this. I have never seen one, but it looks like a electric coping or fret saw. I don't know where you would find blades for it tho. You're talking 60 yrs old.
If I'm right, you pull the trigger? and the coil is a magnet. causing the blade bar to be pulled down. The upper bar causes it to go up. Thus causing a cutting action by viberation. I have an old scroll saw that works this way, but I can still get blades for mine.
Click to expand...
I had the matching jig saw too! I sold mine for $1.00 or so at a garage sale... what a fool I was. Mine had a shinny sheet metal top with a slightly turned edge. Come to think of it..... it may have used the same blades????

Mind sharing where you get the blades and I will check it out??????

Ed
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