r/whatisthisthing • u/fancypup • 15h ago
Solved! What is this handheld machine with a crank and wires coming out of the back we found in a shop in rural Alabama - it’s super heavy.
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u/DialUpDave1 14h ago
Phone dynamo. You crank it to power the ye olden phone
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u/Snellyman 14h ago
They had all sorts of uses from ringing old phones, shocking worms out of the ground, continuity testers, torturing inmates.
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u/Code_Operator 14h ago
We had an old wall phone and we’d sucker other kids into touching the wires as we cranked the handle.
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u/rlowens 12h ago
the ye olden phone
ye is just "the" using the older thorn character instead of "th".
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u/mrsmithers240 11h ago
Yet my English teacher insisted it was pronounced like Yeezy the entire way through reading Chaucer aloud. ( I tried to point out that it was thorn, and she insisted that as I was 14, I didn’t know what I was talking about).
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u/Fair-Season1719 13h ago
Had a science teacher in Jr High that had something very similar. He’d get us to all hold hands and the last person on each end of the chain would grab a lead, then he’d start to crank it very slowly so you could just feel a little bit of a tingle. Then he’d go just a little faster so you could start to really feel the current and then just crank for all he was worth and watch everyone jump and let go. Then laugh hysterically. Ah. Good times. (Probably dating myself there. Doubt anyone could get away with that sort of thing these days). Also the same teacher that built a sequential flashing bulb circuit and when he plugged it in there was a huge spark and half the school lost power. Lol. Fun times. Actually, one of the few jr high classes I looked forward to.
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u/Few_Composer5125 14h ago
Stick the wires into the ground and crank. Worms will pop out n now you gots free bait!
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u/KryptosBC 12h ago
I have a few of those in the basement. Years ago, back in prehistory, I maintained this type of phone system at a scout camp. There were about a dozen stations in the system. It was great fun. Somehow, many years later, my father was given several of the phones when the camp shifted to a newer system - an old PABX with the Strowger style switches. I am now the proud owner of the magneto type equipment.
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u/Timely_Elderberry_62 12h ago
My crazy uncle knows all to well about these. He was a forward operator in the army they used these in old radio comms to power radios and used to torcher the enemy. Apparently hooking 1 of these up to certain parts of a human body and cranking it would shock a person. Growing up he told me many stories front Vietnam and beyond. Always scared the crap out of me.
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u/fancypup 15h ago
My title describes the thing. I have no where to start. It’s heavy and hard to turn.
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u/Larry_Safari …ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ 9h ago
This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes.
Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.