YAWITT: Yet Another What Is This Thing?
September 30, 2016 3:57 PM Subscribe
This thing was found during a junk drawer clean out at my office. It is a roughly 3/4" x 6" piece of high quality leather bolted at each end to a machined metal piece with a closed cell foam sandwiched in between.
This thing was found during a junk drawer clean out at my office. It is a roughly 3/4" x 6" piece of high quality leather bolted at each end to a machined metal piece with a closed cell foam sandwiched in between. The metal is lighter weight, but not cheap feeling; like zinc or higher quality aluminum. It is not magnetic. The foam is closed cell and fairly stiff but still squishy like a yoga mat or cheap flip-flop/sandal EVA foam. I can only deform the whole assembly slightly with my hand strength.
Possible hint or possible red-herring: It might be related to footwear, hunting, outdoor/camping gear, or the manufacturing of those items due to the nature of the office.
The assembly was found in the pictured box with the pictured straps. Completely possible that they are unrelated, but suggests that this thing is a 'spare' something.
Thanks!
This thing was found during a junk drawer clean out at my office. It is a roughly 3/4" x 6" piece of high quality leather bolted at each end to a machined metal piece with a closed cell foam sandwiched in between. The metal is lighter weight, but not cheap feeling; like zinc or higher quality aluminum. It is not magnetic. The foam is closed cell and fairly stiff but still squishy like a yoga mat or cheap flip-flop/sandal EVA foam. I can only deform the whole assembly slightly with my hand strength.
Possible hint or possible red-herring: It might be related to footwear, hunting, outdoor/camping gear, or the manufacturing of those items due to the nature of the office.
The assembly was found in the pictured box with the pictured straps. Completely possible that they are unrelated, but suggests that this thing is a 'spare' something.
Thanks!
(And if it is a luggage handle, probably the foam is just there to hold the shape and should be taken out when installed.)
posted by MsMolly at 4:08 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by MsMolly at 4:08 PM on September 30, 2016
I've seen those types of straps used on bicycle toe clips but I'm not sure how that helps.
posted by GuyZero at 4:14 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by GuyZero at 4:14 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Those straps look like toe straps for bicycles (random site with toe clips ). The leather color looks like Brooks Bicycle's classic color but I don't know what that item would be.
on preview, jinx!
posted by holyrood at 4:19 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
on preview, jinx!
posted by holyrood at 4:19 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Does the foam slip out easily? That it's meant to, and just holds the shape, was my guess too. But the opening looks too small for it to be a handle-- can you get your fingers through easily? Also, those two bolts wouldn't give it enough mechanical strength to carry much of anything.
Is the hole on the opposite side, the one not currently bolted, threaded?
posted by supercres at 4:47 PM on September 30, 2016
Is the hole on the opposite side, the one not currently bolted, threaded?
posted by supercres at 4:47 PM on September 30, 2016
Best answer: Two black straps with silver buckles are toe straps. The leather and aluminum piece is the friction element of a spin bike. When you tighten the tension knob it bears against the flywheel and provides resistance. The leather wears out, it's sacrificial.
posted by fixedgear at 4:55 PM on September 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by fixedgear at 4:55 PM on September 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
ok. More constructive: appears to be a rest or pad for something. Since it was an office find, what kind of work is done there?
posted by ecorrocio at 4:58 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by ecorrocio at 4:58 PM on September 30, 2016
Best answer: fixedgear (appropriately enough) has it. You can see the friction pad for sale here.
posted by adamrice at 5:17 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by adamrice at 5:17 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
It looks like fixedgear knows what it IS, but it would also make a great doorstop if it just filled the gap between the bottom of the open door and floor with a slight compression.
posted by ctmf at 4:26 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ctmf at 4:26 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks FixedGear!
We do have a work out gym at our office with a couple stationary and recumbent bikes. No idea how parts for one of the bikes ended up in our drawer.
Mystery solved!
posted by TomFoolery at 10:22 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
We do have a work out gym at our office with a couple stationary and recumbent bikes. No idea how parts for one of the bikes ended up in our drawer.
Mystery solved!
posted by TomFoolery at 10:22 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by MsMolly at 4:05 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]