The "Mystery Tool"
Here’s a picture of a mystery tool out at my favorite motorcycle shop:
I spent about an hour researching it. Even with Google’s help, I came up short.
Then the solution dawned on me: just ask Tim, my cousin. (That would be Tim Hoopman, son of Orrin of Cherry Grove blacksmithing and Pietenpol airplane fame.) Tim, having a few dozen patents himself, knows his way around the government patent website.
I know Tim is busy playing bridge and playing tennis and mowing lawn and and consulting and going to grandkids’ school events—and inventing. His most recent patent application was just approved a few days ago!
So how do I get his attention to even look at this mystery tool? Frame the question as a challenge, of course! Engineers love challenges!
And a challenge it was! Because of the age of the patent (1922), it is not nearly as readily available as recent patents. But he found it!
It is a valve seat refacing tool for faucets, plain old water faucets included! We suspected it was some sort of refacing tool but thought probably for something far more exotic than a water faucet. This one will do many different sizes, so guess that’s where the “exotic” comes in.
I wish I could say that I won a $100 bet because of Tim’s answer but that’s just not the case. Tim solved a mystery and now he, me, and the tool’s owner all feel better!
Thanks, Tim!