Thread: Tool identification

The date mark, "Pussers Arrow" and 4 digit number identify this as an item supplied to the UK government, the majority to the Ministry Of Defence. As the Australian Department of Defence sourced almost everything from the UK until the sixties it would originally come from the UK. The MOD were still date stamping items when I left ten years ago but the Ausies never bothered stamping anything sourced from local suppliers.

The numbers "7570" refer to it's "rate book" number, basically an item in a catalogue. To positively identify this item you would need to find either a 1950's Hand Tools MOD stores catalogue, or research Elwell's records (if they exist anymore!).

Lastly, it bears a striking resemblance to a caulking tool used on ships wooden decks, although I admit I never saw or used a cranked one. These tools were forged from steel and left with the scale on, then painted black. We were still caulking wooden decks on "Ton" class minesweepers right up to the mid 90's when they finally paid off.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard still use traditional tools and techniques to look after their exhibits and the ships HMS Victory and Warrior, many of their staff are old ex RN "Chippies" and "Tiffs" (. If you are still stuck with identifying this tool maybe drop them a line.