What is it?: December 2005

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.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

545. 2-3/4" diameter

546. 31" tall, this piece of furniture was made for a particular purpose.

547. 7-1/2" long

548. Partial shot of something most have seen before:

These last two were submitted by visitors to this site:

549. 9" long

550. Someone sent this one in hoping to find out what it is. The tool can be pushed almost entirely into the length of the handle, and then it springs back out. Not a really tight spring, as the hand can be held against the points when pushing in; also the rod freely rotates in the handle. 9" long

Answers

Thursday, December 22, 2005

539. 6" tall, liquid can flow into the attached tubing at either end.

540. 4" long

541. 5-1/4" x 4-1/4"

542.

543. Another unidentified item that has been submitted, it was found in an early home in upstate NY. The patent appears to be 18?? and is stamped on back of what looks like a tack hammer head. Overall length is 14 1/2" , iron teeth strip is 12" L x 5/16" W , mounted on a 1/2" x 1" rectangular strip of wood (wood is nicely fluted on top)

544. 4-3/4" diameter

Answers

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

533. 6" long, someone sent in these photos, looking to identify this tool:

A brief description by the owner:
It has one or two parts that can be slid (using a fair amount of pressure), but squeezing the handles does not produce any movements. The large wire bow, with a coil at its base, and the smaller radius flat metal bow within it both are almost certainly springs.