What is it?

I've been collecting unusual objects for quite a while, and several years ago I started posting them on this site as puzzles for visitors to figure out what they are. Most of the items are mine but a few belong to others, if you aren't interested in tools there are plenty of other type objects that have also been posted.

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for a wide variety of some of my best pieces.

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

266. 8" long



267. 1/2" diameter



268. 10" long



269.



270. 4" long x 3 1/4" wide x 1/8" thick



271. 5 1/4" wide





Answers

posted by Rob H. at 6:53 PM

17 Comments:

  • 268. A bayonet.
    269. A fan, propellor or impeller.

    [mp]

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/10/2005 2:36 PM  

  • 270 - A glass magic lantern slide. Was this used in a Van Altena lecture series?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/10/2005 5:40 PM  

  • >A cap nut.

    Correct, it's a nut, though it doesn't say "cap nut" on the package, this is probably synonymous with what it's called.

    >268. A bayonet.

    Yes

    >269. A fan, propellor or impeller.

    Propeller is correct.

    >270 - A glass magic lantern slide. Was this used in a Van Altena lecture series?

    Yes, it's a lantern slide, I don't know if it was used in a lecture series, someone at the flea market had a box of about one hundred of them and I bought two for a dollar each.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 2/10/2005 7:30 PM  

  • 270 - Apparently Edward Van Altena was a colorist (the art of hand tinting photo images). I was wondering why this one was not colored.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/10/2005 11:19 PM  

  • >270 ...I was wondering why this one was not colored.

    I'm guessing that the original artwork was done in black and white so there was no need to color it. The thing that I like about magic lanterns is that they used a flame for a light source instead of a light bulb, there are some photos of several very cool looking ones at the bottom of this site:

    http://courses.ncssm.edu/gallery/collections/toys/html/exhibit02.htm

    >267 - an acorn nut?

    Correct, though the package description has four words, you've gotten two of them.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 2/11/2005 8:21 PM  

  • I thought 269 was a fortune cookie. I suck at this.

    By Blogger Eric Wormann, at 2/12/2005 4:05 PM  

  • 271. Bottle cleaner used by home beer / wine makers.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/15/2005 1:27 AM  

  • 266 - charcoal fire starter
    I don't recall the numbers for the rest but there was a skeet throwing stick and a glue applicator (brown glass bottle) not yet identified.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/18/2005 12:34 AM  

  • 272 - sliding glass door lock
    273 - lathe dog

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/18/2005 12:37 AM  

  • 276 - camera iris

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/18/2005 12:38 AM  

  • >271. Bottle cleaner used by home beer / wine makers.

    Correct

    >#266 A shoe stretcher?

    Still researching this one.

    >266 - charcoal fire starter
    I don't recall the numbers for the rest but there was a skeet throwing stick and a glue applicator (brown glass bottle) not yet identified.

    Haven't yet verified this one, how would you start fires with it?
    Correct on the skeet thrower, the brown glass bottle is a pinstriper, not sure if it doubles as a glue applicator.

    >272 - sliding glass door lock
    >273 - lathe dog

    Both correct.

    >276 - camera iris

    Yes

    By Blogger Rob H., at 2/18/2005 6:49 AM  

  • 275- clay pigeon thrower

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/19/2005 3:25 PM  

  • 266. Unless there is a place to put an electric cord into the end, I doubt this is a charcoal starter. Additionally, I do not see any charing but that might just be the photo. I like the idea that it is a shoe tree, This would be supported by it having wear marks on the butt end.

    - Edward

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/23/2005 10:30 AM  

  • >275- clay pigeon thrower

    Correct

    >266. Unless there is a place to put an electric cord into the end...

    No, there isn't a place for a cord. Still haven't been able to verify what this tool is for, one reason it might not be for shoes is that it's not adjustable.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 2/23/2005 6:33 PM  

  • I think # 266 was used as a hardboiled egg remover from the hot water??

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/11/2005 3:30 PM  

  • I think # 266 was used as a hardboiled egg remover from the hot water??

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/11/2005 3:31 PM  

  • I believe #266 may have been a hardboiled egg remover from hot water??

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/11/2005 3:33 PM  

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