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12-13-2018, 01:05 AM
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Lionel Corporation New York
What have I got here friends?
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12-13-2018, 06:06 AM
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Hmmm, I collect Lionel Electric Trains, and am quite familiar with the Company's History and many other products they have made over the years (electric fans, flashlights & batteries, parts for ships guidance systems during WWll, chemistry sets, but you have got me stumped on this one!
As a wild guess I'm gonna say some sort of counting devise for steps - I think they call it a Pedometer. I'm more than likely incorrect but it does appear to be a counter of some sorts. PLEASE let us know!
Could also be a round (or complete cycle) counter of some sort.
Last edited by chief38; 12-13-2018 at 07:23 AM.
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12-13-2018, 08:17 AM
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See it a little better this way. I have no idear what it is. 
Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk
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12-13-2018, 08:45 AM
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Search for "Lionel Mechanical Revolution Counter . . . "
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12-13-2018, 09:03 AM
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Doesn't appear to be model train related
It has a lanyard ring indicating it was meant to be carried, appears a bit over-built, indicating a military contract or application and the top gear is called a worm gear, indication that it was mechanically adjustable with a screw not visible in the photo. It also does not appear to have any electrical connections.
My guess is that it had something to do with artillery, some sort of ranging calculator.
Last edited by federali; 12-13-2018 at 09:14 AM.
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12-13-2018, 10:02 AM
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Thanks for the interesting comments and thank you Salty for flipping the photo, I've fought that problem before and it was late when I posted and didn't have the patience.
The dial in the frame does turn on that worm gear making a full loop inside the brass rectangular frame and the dial then turns as well. I looked at Lionel's Taffrail devices meant to measure boat speed in water but those devices are constructed differently from the one in hand.
Lionel Corporation was more than a toy train manufacturer, this little device is a mystery I really want to solve. I think Muss Muggins has the answer, now to go read the search results.
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Last edited by retiredbadge8091; 12-13-2018 at 10:23 AM.
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12-13-2018, 11:54 AM
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One can easily see how it works (the frame rotates on its horizontal (short) axis as the threaded shaft appears to be fixed in place), but that doesn't shed much light on its exact intended use. It's obviously designed to be portable given the ring on top and the leather carrying case. I'd guess the frame would be affixed to a mounting on something probably rotating at a relatively slow rate so that centrifugal force wouldn't interfere with its operation.
The closest thing I can think of is a wheel odometer used on some trucks.
Last edited by DWalt; 12-13-2018 at 12:11 PM.
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12-13-2018, 12:44 PM
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I only remember Lionel being in Irvington, New Jersey.
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12-13-2018, 12:53 PM
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Just a guess it appears to measure grade, possibly a surveyors tool. The inside portion swings, and when held at the grade the inside would rotate horizontal(like a plumb bob) to give a reading. Probably used by the military for artillery.
This is just a wild guess, because most counters have a shaft, or mounting points to connected to a shaft. This device is clearly designed to be carried on person.
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12-13-2018, 01:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkingwolf
Just a guess it appears to measure grade, possibly a surveyors tool. The inside portion swings, and when held at the grade the inside would rotate horizontal(like a plumb bob) to give a reading. Probably used by the military for artillery.
This is just a wild guess, because most counters have a shaft, or mounting points to connected to a shaft. This device is clearly designed to be carried on person.
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I don't think it has anything to do with grade. It is clearly intended to count rotations, but of what is undetermined.
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12-13-2018, 01:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt
I don't think it has anything to do with grade. It is clearly intended to count rotations, but of what is undetermined.
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It was just a guess, but I am clearly baffled at how it could be mounted to a shaft without interfering with it's function.
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12-13-2018, 02:02 PM
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The ad Muss Muggins found said it was a device used to measure train speed when used in conjunction with a stop watch... The quest continues.
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12-13-2018, 06:23 PM
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You might contact the Lionel Collectors Club of America. Although their main interest is trains, the members are very interested in anything Lionel produced.
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12-13-2018, 10:50 PM
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I it was to check RPMs it would have to have a means of transferring the
revolutions into device. Like a shaft. Some kind of device that was used with a stop watch. I have a RPM tool it's 1940s vintage, Millers Falls Co.
It looks nothing like that. I've never used it.
I did buy some old fishing tackle that contained a well made old spinning
reel made by Lionel Corp. It is late 30s earl 40s vintage.
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12-13-2018, 11:10 PM
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12-14-2018, 12:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dswancutt
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"This is the Metal Odometer that Lionel made during World War I, for the US Army and its Corps of Engineers. It was used by Engineers and Surveyors to attach to their wagon wheels to measure the distance traveled. The meter is functional & has its leather case, which is part of the mechanism." As stated on an auction website.
In order for the odometer to operate correctly, there needs to be a leather case, which my device is missing.
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Last edited by retiredbadge8091; 12-14-2018 at 12:34 AM.
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12-14-2018, 09:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Freischütz
You might contact the Lionel Collectors Club of America. Although their main interest is trains, the members are very interested in anything Lionel produced.
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I'm a Member of the LCCA and like I stated above, this one was not in any literature I've ever read, not at any Lionel Show I've ever attended and was unknown to me until this post. Not that I am the world's foremost authority on Lionel, but I am a pretty serious collector, own many books, video and journals and have gotten in to the Hobby Big Time! I've also got many books on the History of Lionel and no mention of this devise was ever made. I know they made many items other than Electric Trains (in fact the electric trains were Joshua Lionel Cowan's LAST manufacturing venture after making many items during his life time. Good post! I'd bet there are many more items long time manufacturing Company's made that the general public (and even collectors) are unaware of. 
I'll bet money that S&W made items over the years unbeknownst to many of us right here! Company's are always trying to get into other things to make a buck.
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12-14-2018, 09:05 AM
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This was all I could find on this devise - one for sale on ebay.
RARE/ANTIQUE Lionel Corporation New York Mechanical Revolution Counter.
Based on the scientific device invented by German Engineer Dietrich Uhlhorn in 1814.
This rare device was manufactured by Lionel Corporation first incorporated in New York, N.Y. in 1900. There are no patent numbers or part numbers on this device and it is simply marked on the dial face with the name Lionel Corporation and New York.
The device is constructed of brass and steel. It's solid construction represents a time in history when quality was paramount.
This piece speaks to engineering/surveying/military enthusiasts, as well as Lionel collectors. It is reportedly a wagon/caisson odometer and would have been paired with a leather case to complete the mechanism and measure distance traveled.
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12-14-2018, 10:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief38
This was all I could find on this devise - one for sale on ebay.
RARE/ANTIQUE Lionel Corporation New York Mechanical Revolution Counter.
Based on the scientific device invented by German Engineer Dietrich Uhlhorn in 1814.
This rare device was manufactured by Lionel Corporation first incorporated in New York, N.Y. in 1900. There are no patent numbers or part numbers on this device and it is simply marked on the dial face with the name Lionel Corporation and New York.
The device is constructed of brass and steel. It's solid construction represents a time in history when quality was paramount.
This piece speaks to engineering/surveying/military enthusiasts, as well as Lionel collectors. It is reportedly a wagon/caisson odometer and would have been paired with a leather case to complete the mechanism and measure distance traveled.
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Full disclosure chief38, you stumbled on the ad I generated with you folks' assistance. Although this device is interesting and it has been a blast to research, it needs to belong to a serious collector of such items.
This forum never ceases to amaze me with the knowledge contained within. I believe the answers to untold questions reside here. Thank you friends.
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12-14-2018, 11:14 AM
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As I said in #8 above:
"The closest thing I can think of is a wheel odometer used on some trucks."
Standard Hubodometer(R) | STEMCO
Last edited by DWalt; 12-14-2018 at 11:16 AM.
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