Is it R2D2’s brawny cousin? Or some left over behemoth of an industrial past?

OK. Our space shuttle is back in the news, making me recall those old “Star War” movies with the friendly robot, R2D2. Believe it or not, just as I turned onto Gracelawn Road from Turner Street in Auburn, and there he was – our own R2D2 waiting on the corner. He was even for sale.

Now I’ve been watching him every time I pass the corner. Let me say he’s a rather discouraging color: tan and rust with duct tape accents. And he’s big. My estimate is six feet tall and about that wide. He may be R2’s larger, uglier cousin.

What, I wonder, is he really? The cables make me think of a winch of some kind. Did he haul lobster traps? Or boats? I’m trying to understand the rust on him, thinking he may have worked on boats or the docks.

Or, does he package things? Rolling little or even big packages around and around until they spill off one of his corners and go on to the next stage. Could be.

Since I have such a mechanical and mathematical mind, I can’t help wondering if he calculates numbers. A sort of early computer with a wind-up memory. Could be.

Now there are some clues. On one corner of his anatomy is this sign: “CAUTION! When paying off cable always release cable tensioner and maintain manual tension on cable to prevent loosening of coils on winch drum.” You see, the cable is important, but the word “tensioner” is not even in my big dictionary. Releasing it, even for the cautious operator, could be difficult. What, after all, is he going to “always release?”

But, to give you an idea of R2’s power, note this other sign on his chest: “CAUTION! Maximum load bare drum is 25,000 pounds. If shear pin fails install pin stamped with 25m’ use, two part line for heavier loads.”

My gosh! 25,000 pounds! And with the right sort of pin, R2 can even handle heavier loads. This R2 is mightier than a team of oxen at the Fryeburg Fair.

I finally gave up and called the owner’s number on R2s “For Sale” sign. Paul Duclos of Lewiston gave me the scoop. Yes, R2s a winch, “a commercial, industrial winch that can retrieve vehicles from mud,” said Duclos. R2 has a gear box, he said, and I think that relates to the tensioner we talked about before. And what a history! No space rides for this R2, but he has worked from the back of a 10-ton Army truck to move tanks!

This guy has done feats of power and now he sits quietly on the corner waiting for someone who needs him to step forward and buy him from Duclos. You know who you are. The price is your business.

Sarah Andersen lives in Auburn.

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