Mystery Tool, Any clue as to what is it? Options

[Richard Casto]

Included in my car purchase were a number of boxes of parts. As I sorted through the parts, I found two tools that I can’t identify. For all I know they are used to disassemble the space shuttle engines. Or maybe they are some special $500 Porsche tool that someday I will wish I hadn’t thrown out.

Best I can tell it is meant to have some type of ratcheting motion. As you move the handle on the tool back and forth the lever on the end seems to catch and release the three toothed gear. This rotates the gear. I am somewhat a fan of mechanical clocks and the first thing I thought of was that this was much like a clock escapement. Here is a link to an animation of a clock escapement that works much like what this tool looks to do…

Escapement Animation

On the first photo the one on the bottom shows the lever part engaged with the gear. The second photo shows the lever spun around to see it in detail.

Any idea what this is??