It sounds like you’ve got a vintage or antique tool or measuring device, and the description gives a few clues:
- Numbered notches → Could be used for measurement, counting, or indexing.
- Rotating top plate → Likely adjusts the mechanism or selects a setting.
- No obvious attachment → Could mean it was handheld, free-standing, or part of a larger device originally.
Here are some possibilities:
- Spice or Coffee Grinder Dial – Some old tabletop grinders had numbered settings to adjust coarseness.
- Thread or Wire Gauge – Used to measure thickness or tension, often with a rotating selector.
- Antique Calculator / Counter – Rotating numbered discs were common for tallying, like mechanical counters.
- Planer / Drafting Tool – Some old carpentry or drafting tools had adjustable numbered plates to measure depth or angles.
If you can send a photo or describe the size, material, and any markings, I can probably identify it with much higher certainty.
Do you want to do that?
