Another strange blade honing device?

[TonyGold]

I picked up this 'honing device' this morning at a junk stall. When I got it it was covered with jewelers rouge, which I have washed away.
The device appears to operate this way: with the triangular loop handle to the left a blade is inserted into the bird-mouth like opening and a strop is threaded between the blade and the two thin top bars and under the thicker bar. Pulling the triangular handle whilst applying a downward pressure causes the blade carrier to twist and present the training edge of the blade to the strop. Raising the handle releases the blade from the strop allowing the device to be returned to the top of the strop. However the design of the handle perplexes me as it isn't an ergonomic shape so perhaps the device was hung from a nail on the wall and the strop was drawn through it. The wear and its location on the plating suggests that it has seen a lot of use.
Does anyone have any clues about it, its name and age (I would guess 1930 - 50)

Ist photo Handle to left and 'bird mouth'


2nd photo Handle to right and carrier twisting lever


3rd photo General view from top

 

[KRF1963]

Do any of these work on modern blades?

 

[TonyGold]

I had a go at using it with an old three hole Gillette DE blade and a leather belt (the sides of the device are narrower than the width of my strop). I found it very difficult to control the position of the blade which kept slipping sideways in the holder. Still it was fun to clean up and play with and it only cost $2 after all.

 

[gearchow]

How you figured that out makes you a genius in my book. I have a mint Wilkinson with the instructions and I can't figure out how to strop the blade. I guess that's why I write software for a living.

You got a picture of it with the strop and blade installed?

-jim