For the illucidation of the Younger Members,
It certainly is not a Swastica as I have seen these emblems on machinery and tools that were struck before Adolf Schicklegruber was born, way back in the middle "1880's".
I have several different sizes of them which were used fitting Babbitt and Bronze Half shell bearings for Naval and Commercial Sea Going Vessels From Aircraft Carriers to Harbor Tugs. My father was for a time a ship board Machinest and Turbine Fitter in NNS&DDCo. where he worked on many of the largest Aircraft Carriers and Battle Wagons of the WW-2 Era.
They are still quite frequently used in repairing surviving line shaft equipment and a variety of shipboard applications where there is an atmosphere that is conducive to rusting ans locking up of higher refined bearings.
OH, Yes, You want to know what it really is !
Its called a Bearing Scraper and is used with the two sharp edges down, scraping side to side in a rocking motion, to remove very small amounts of metal from the pressure contact points between the bearing and shaft to provide a smooth constant thickness oil film between the bearing shell and the shaft.
A very touchy and precision job that requires much skill and experience to do properly.
There are few today who retain the knowledge gained from the Old Timers.
These tools were manufactured in the south central US to supply tooling for the Mississippi Tugs and Barges and the remaining Paddle Boats that remain in use.
I still use them to refit my pre WW-2 craftsman Lathe bearings as needed.
Ed was right and Half right because I do use it on my lathe in a sort of way, how did you know, Ed. ???
ViggoG
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