Help me I.D. this tool (aeronautical content?)

Hey guys, I have a challenge that I bet won’t be a challenge. A guy I work with brought in a tool of some sort that he got out of his dad’s place after he passed. We don’t have an idea what it is, just that it seems to be something aircraft related, and it appears to be a go-no-go gauge.
I don’t have anything to measure it with, so I’ll give approximate measurements. It’s about 28” long, about 1.5 inches wide at the widest points, and one end is about .025” thick, the other being about .050” thick, gradually tapered.
There’s a label that’s only partially clear enough to read. What do you think it is?

Looks like a high-speed, low-drag back scratcher to me.

So let's state what the label says so we are all on the same page:

'Something'

'AER-FOIL'

'Taper'

'Laminated'

'Patented'

'Something else...'

If you have access to patent information, you might be able to figure it out with a number.

I couldn't find anything for AER-FOIL. The closest looking tool I found was a skin wedge.

Was he a jet- mech? Looks like some type of feeler gauge for turbine blade clearance. If no one can come up with a better answer, I know a retired jet engine tech, I can show it to him and see what he thinks.

HappyAndy wrote: Was he a jet- mech? Looks like some type of feeler gauge for turbine blade clearance. If no one can come up with a better answer, I know a retired jet engine tech, I can show it to him and see what he thinks.

That's exactly what I pictured it as. This guy was air traffic control, never a tech.

I would assume you are correct about it being a go/no-go gauge. Most likely a powerplants tool, maybe an airframes tool.

I don't think so. Spent some years as a jet mech, and we didn't use a tool like that. Too sloppy and big for the job.

I personally suspect it has to do with older fabric skinned planes, wing surfaces in particular. No fancy or technical reason, just a suspicion.

Since I've held it in my hands (unfortunately, that's NOT what she said) I can say it looks to be from the 1960's. Not sure if that changes things at all.

Can you get the patent number?

I don't know, but perhaps a valve rocker clearance tool / feeler gauge?

Looks like a sealant scraper/spreader to me. We still use something similar for removing sealant from panel gaps and then applying fresh stuff to fill it back in.

tuna55 wrote: Can you get the patent number?

No, i cant read a number on it.
Under "patented" it looks like it says "FIBERGLASS", and at the bottom "N. Y. N.Y. 10017" but I'm not sure about the ZIP code.

I have a couple of A&P guys that also think it is a sealant scraper. It's nice having some guys around that have seen things like that.

stafford1500 wrote: I have a couple of A&P guys that also think it is a sealant scraper. It's nice having some guys around that have seen things like that.

I dunno, it's pretty flexible, and it doesn't have a chisel-edge that I'd expect to see on a scraper of any kind.

That was probably used to change the tv stations when there was no remote.

Zip code 10017 would be New York, the city.

I figure it's made for a 4-place small aircraft. The way I see it, you're flying somewhere with your family and the kids are acting up. Normally you'd yell "DON'T MAKE ME PULL THIS CAR OVER. I'LL PULL IT OVER RIGHT NOW!!!" Well, in a plane the effect isn't the same "I'LL RADIO THE NEAREST TOWER AND GET CLEARANCE TO LAND AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT, THEN TAXI DOWN THE RUNWAY TO A VACANT HANGAR!!" So, this is to whack the kids while in flight. It's long enough to reach the passengers in the back no problem.

DrBoost wrote: ...The way I see it, you're flying somewhere with your family and the kids are acting up....

No need to go through that much trouble. The solution is in your hands.

The military calls it an unloaded dive:

EastCoastMojo wrote: That was probably used to change the tv stations when there was no remote.

no, those were called "kids"..

aircooled wrote: No need to go through that much trouble. The solution is in your hands. The military calls it an unloaded dive:

Totally going to hell over that one; cannot stop laughing. Notice how the tail keeps wagging? My trusting Lab would not mind the whole thing, as long as he was with me.