Really cool find. Lasting jack that appears to be home made. Not sure if the design is original but pretty clever, the joints are all wood dowels and serve to lever up the toe and lock the shoe in place for bottoming work without springs or anything. The only metal is a 3/8” iron rod lasting pin and an iron ring to keep the post from splitting. Wood looks hand hewn. The last it came with is unsided which would suggest 1800s or so if they are the same age. But I’m just guessing.
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The height is coarsely adjustable by moving the pins to different holes, and fine with the ratchet. The angle of the limb supporting the toe can be adjusted so the toe sling can be closer or farther from the main post, so it can adjust to different size lasts.
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Definitely interesting! I’m gonna have to look at this a while.
Definitely a compound lever system! I’ll be interested to read about how convenient or ergonomic it is to work on.
I think this will stay on display, is be heartbroken if I broke it. Would be an interesting template to make a reproduction of though especially since it uses virtually no hardware
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