There are many aspects to tool identification. Maybe you were brought to this site through a reverse image search such as google lens. Maybe you just call it a cranky turny thing and need more information. If it is not a machine, is it a stake?
Most tinner’s tools have a maker mark of some kind. It may be a brass tag or stamped into the body. The fact that it is marked S Stow & Co, or Peck Smith MFG Co, or Roys & Wilcox, or Seth Peck, or J Wilcox Portchester or Sawpit NY, or J & E North Berlin CT, or J W Bulkley it is a good chance it is a tinner’s tool.
Tinner’s tools can be dated with the above information. We know that the town of Sawpit NY changed it’s name, in 1837, to Port Chester NY, Thus, a tool with that mark is older than 1837.
With the power of the internet, we have been able to correct many of the earlier lists such as Frank Whites Tinners Tool Checklist.
Seth Peck 1819-1831
Seth Peck & Co 1831-1843
Peck Smith & Co 1843- 1853
Peck Smith Manufacturing 1853-1870
N & G Taylor 1810-1868
Jacob Brombacher 1833-1860
Brombacher & Sons 1846-1860
Brombacher & Depew 1860-1863
Charles Brombacher 1863-1887
Brombacher Incorporated 1887-1897
Josiah Wilcox 1828-1850
Roys & Wilcox 1847-1870
Wilcox & Roys 1837-1849
Solomon Stow 1834-1847
Solomon Stow & Son 1847-1849
Solomon Stow & Sons 1849-1851
Stow & Co 1851-1853
S Stow Manufacturing Co 1853-1870
J Nixon & Son 1835-1862
F Roys 1840-1849