I have no clue to what this is!

[greenacres]

My mom gave me a bunch of my grandfather's tools. This was in there. It says JIFF JET Pat PEND. What is it? When I think of the tools we sold after we closed the family business I could kick myself. I didn't have the time then. This is certainly not near the caliber of things I sold. I had air guns and generators punch presses, and million different things. My mom keep some but not what we should have. This was in some of the tools. I assume you hold it like a gun.

[mart]

looks like a staple puller !!  when the small handle id depressed the center rod goes down and you push it under the staple the oval part gives you leverage to remove it ??  thats my guess !!
never mind just looked at the other pic,, center part is too big for that !!  back to the drawing board !!

[greenacres]

I get it! I could see that. We had a mfg. co., and used a lot of cartons. Now I never use this but he had this 4ft. stapler with a foot peddle that stapled cartons only. I don't even know what happened to it.

[mart]

if thats it it would have been held upside down or even sideways,, not gun like !! front fingers would operate the lever,, oval part would be down.  at least thats the way it looks to me !!

[msghopper1924]

It looks like a juice harp, aka Jew's harp or jaw harp to me. Maybe your grandfather would take a music break to relax from work for a few minutes during the day.

[Kimmienemo]

It looks like one of the spray paint can triggers - so that your fingers don't get tired depressing the nozzle of spray paint cans.  They make them now, only they are usually plastic.  Perhaps this was an early one. . . especially since it came from your grandfather's tool section.

I am attaching a picture of the current spray paint trigger handle.

[bigwull]

I would say, you have nailed it....

[mart]

what would hold it to the can ?? and if that were it,, lever would depress down,, looks like this goes up if it were held gun like !!

[Kimmienemo]

If I am not mistaken, the opening, like a keyhole, would allow the top of the can to slide into the larger portion - then slip the can forward into the narrow area.  The pressure itself would hold the can.  The trigger piece,  would have to tip forward, toward the can to allow the top portion to come to rest on the nozzle.  As you pull the trigger, the top portion of the metal "trigger" would depress the valve at the top.

That is my "guess."  It sure looks like the ones that I have used for that purpose.

[bigwull]

I was looking at the keyhole configuration...and i think you have definitely nailed it...in fact these contraptions are still available...but they are made of hard plastic,see link

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/i/ITPSM/

Another coconut for me and Kimmienemo....perha ps....

[mart]

maybe !! must have never been used !!  not a trace of paint !!

[bigwull]

maybe !! must have never been used !!  not a trace of paint !!

the paint came out of the spray can....heading away from the applicator....not going in the opposite direction....or perhaps if he was anything like my old man....he cleaned it until not a speck of paint was left... ...or....perhaps he,did,nt know what it was for either....

[mart]

i have used enough spray paint to fill a battleship and i don`t care how careful you are,, that stuff is going everywhere when you depress that nozzle !!  must have never been used !!

[greenacres]

I have to give out the coconuts! A lovely bunch of coconuts!

[bigwull]

i have used enough spray paint to fill a battleship and i don`t care how careful you are,, that stuff is going everywhere when you depress that nozzle !!  must have never been used !!

LOL....i needed a good laugh, and your battleship painting did it for me....was it anything like mine...Oh!and btw, this is not what to do with a 7ft Ercol dining room table...if Avril ever finds out...she will kill me...