ID This tool please!

[firetruckenthusy]

I found this at a garage sale. I told the lady it was a man thing and it belonged in my shop. I have no idea what it is. It is 14.5" long when fully clamped down and 7 inches wide. It looks to be made from cast aluminum.
Anyone seen one before???? A photo is posted here:
http://www.diynot.com/network/firetruckenthusy/albums/

 

[StephenW]

Here's a guess! Could it be used to squeeze water from a flexible hose (such as a fire hose) as you reel it in?

 

[Ian2008]

used to squash plastic water mains for emergency repairs.
I think it can be used on plastic gas mains as well.
From memory it can only be done once in the same spot.

 

[marshman]

And the prize goes to Ian2008.

 

[Stivino]

used to squash plastic water mains for emergency repairs.
I think it can be used on plastic gas mains as well.
From memory it can only be done once in the same spot.

We used to call it a "clamp off".

 

[GRC]

I can picture it in an episode of 24; Jack puts the bad guy's thumbs in and tightens the screw.....

 

[masona]

used to squash plastic water mains for emergency repairs.
I think it can be used on plastic gas mains as well.
From memory it can only be done once in the same spot.

Yes, they have done it outside my house on the 8" yellow plastic gas pipe

 

[Symptoms]

yep ... I reckon GRC is on to something. As firetruckenthusy found the tackle in a US garage sale I suspect it was a bit of redundant kit brought home by one of the guards at Abu Ghraib.

 

[Homesafe]

yep ... I reckon GRC is on to something. As firetruckenthusy found the tackle in a US garage sale I suspect it was a bit of redundant kit brought home by one of the guards at Abu Ghraib.

innocent people died at the hands of those criminals , it's no joke.

 

[Symptoms]

gas - I wasn't joking!