[Newbie] What Is This Thing?

[Hogmd]

I bought a vintage south bend mill a while back and it came with a mystery part I don't know what is. I don't even think I goes to the machine. Hoping some one here will recognize it and let me know what it is. Thanks

 

[TOOLMASTER]

one hell of a police baton..

 

[karim]

Hah! exactly what I was going to say

 

[dave_r_1]

Definitely a persuader of some type.

 

[David VanNorman]

It is a start or clutch handle off of something. The big end fits in a hole and the other end connects to what ever it is hooked to. All I have said is I am dummer than ****.

 

[chips&more]

Looks like it needs to be repurposed.

 

[Groundhog]

Looks like the gear shift linkage from an old Volkswagen - on steroids!

 

[Hogmd]

I was thinking it might be a clutch or stop actuator of some sort. Guess I will find a new use for it. Thanks for the suggestions

 

[Downunder Bob]

Is it possibly part of the belt tension device?

 

[CluelessNewB]

In my high school (built in the 1930s) we had a small theater. The stage lighting had controls similar to that. It allowed multiple rheostats to be ganged up together so several banks of lights could be dimmed together.