This month's item is a belt lacer, used to assemble conveyor and other belts via a series of hooks, and they've been around for more than 100 years. This one was made by Clipper, founded in Grand Rapids, MI, in 1907. The company is in business today as Flexco. Fortunately, not much has changed in lacers. Modern-day lacers are strikingly similar to older versions, like the one shown in this 1914 ad. For a better look at the restored version, click here. To see the "before" pic, click here.

Conveyor belts are used in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, mining, and agriculture. This one is portable, with the handle on the front folding down for easy carrying. (To better understand how a lacer works, click here.)

It has two brass plates. The most prominent one, near the top, warns the user to oil often. The second plate is on the front of the ledge, below the teeth. It reflects the manufacturer's name and the patent dates: "Dec 5, 05; Aug 27, 07; and Dec 26, 1911."  The space between the two plates is engraved with the Clipper logo.

To enlarge the "after" pic, click here. To see the "before" pic from the same angle, click here.

For versatility, there is a ridged foot on the back. The ridges on it allow a dog to slide up and down to adjust for thickness. For a closer look of the pic shown, click here.

As you've probably noticed, we added 1/2" bar-steel to serve as handles. Original models were equipped similarly, with the tops of the handles capped off with wood.