Puzzle box

[BigSteveUK]

The box is made of rosewood, has a raised circular top section with holes, a perspex flap with swivel catch covering a circular metal I think tin insert with a hole in it and appears fixed in place. Remains of instructions say, "Close lid so that hole in spring goes --------pinion?" That's the most I can decifer, it was amoungst a deceased watchmakers tools. What is it and how do you use it?

 

[RichardHarris123]

No idea but I'm as curious as you now. 

[oldhippy]

Just because it was with a deceased watchmakers tools. Doesn't mean it has anything to do with watchmaking.  As to what it is I haven't a clue. 

[RichardHarris123]

26 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Just because it was with a deceased watchmakers tools. Doesn't mean it has anything to do with watchmaking.  As to what it is I haven't a clue. 

How disappointing, I thought you were the font of all knowledge.  Hehe. 

[BigSteveUK]

Still no answers, so I think I will try and extract the circular metal piece to see what is behind or in it. It's very tight so there is a possibility of damaging it, but I don't think I have any other choice, unless someone here had an alternative suggestion.

[HectorLooi]

Absolutely no idea but the perspex lid looks out of place. I don't think plastics existed when the box was made.

The last line in the instructions looks like "Movement ------- test".

So could this be some early test tool? Maybe it's some acoustic amplifier for listening to the ticking of the movement. You put the movement in the hole and close the lid and listen from the speaker-like holes.

I don't know. Just shooting in the dark.

[BigSteveUK]

That is a very good suggestion indeed it could well be an amplifier especially now I have removed the tin disc. As you can see from the pictures the disc was soldered to the nut. Before further disassembly as it's distructive any further ideas would be appreciated. But I have a feeling Hector may have it.

[Nibbler]

spring winder? does the round wood protrusion rotate? holes are for a handle?

[BigSteveUK]

Ok having no choice and bearing in mind its made of wood so easily repaired, I broke it open through the top. And low and behold it has a tin vibration plate that connects to the tin disk, or did until I broke the solder join. So Hector you are right it's a form of amplifier intended to amplify the sound of movements. What an interesting peice of kit, now I will put it all back together and have a play.

[HectorLooi]

Wow! Cool!

Now you can place your phone on top of it to amplify the sound when watching Tiktok videos. 

[BigSteveUK]

No time, I've got a superior high quality super complex Timex to destroy.

[kd8tzc]

That is cool! 

I wonder, if when it was made did it have a thin piece of wood where the plastic is now?  Maybe that was just added later when the wood door broke.

It sort of reminds me of the little things they had for the telegraph operators that allowed the sound to be concentrated a little more to ease them hearing it (telegraph sounder box).  Although, I think the way those telegraph sounder box was also to direct the sound more to the person working the telegraph and to be less distracting when there were multiple telegraph machines in a room.

[BigSteveUK]

kd8tzc

 I just can't get two baked bean tins and a length of string out of my head know.