Set 446

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2587. The idea here is to describe the purpose of the flat metal part running along side the barrel and also to explain why the two small pieces are attached near the barrel's end:

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2588. These are around 9" tall, they were all made to hold a particular product:























2589. Approximately 6' long:

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2590. Sent in by a visitor who is looking to find out exactly how this tool was used:

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2591. About 8" long, this is a part of something that many people would recognize:





























2592. Another unidentified item that was sent in by a visitor, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:

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The owner's description: "...there is a spring loaded ball inside the housing that is forced into a grove in the plunger so that when the plunger is out it snaps into that position. Sort of like how a socket snaps onto a ratchet."





















Answers:


2587. The card in front of this weapon had this description: "Boot Pistol, so called because of the metal flange for securing the weapon on one's boot." The two small parts are brackets for holding the ramrod which can be seen just above the barrel, it appears to be missing the piece that actually holds the ramrod.

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2588. These bottles were made to hold bitters, which is an alcoholic beverage that was flavored with various herbs:























2589. This is a bowling ball rack:

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2590. A can opener, the teeth on the one handle were for use as a nutcracker, the two posts on the inside of the handles were for attaching a spring.

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2591. A section of an old lightning rod, it was included in a salesman's sample, the other part is the lightning rod's tip:

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2592. This device was used for flaring the ends of copper, brass, or aluminum pipe, similar to the ones seen on these three pages. The one at the first link has a set screw to hold flaring bars, similar to the set screw in the item seen below. Modern flaring tools work by turning a screw but this older version worked by hitting the large end with a hammer.

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The owner's description: "...there is a spring loaded ball inside the housing that is forced into a grove in the plunger so that when the plunger is out it snaps into that position. Sort of like how a socket snaps onto a ratchet."

















Are you interested in Old Tools and Tool Collecting? Want to learn more about tools, and meet some great people who have the same interests? Please take a minute to check out the Mid-West Tool Collectors Web Site at this link: www.mwtca.org.































To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile, please include dimensions, any text on the item, and where it was found.




















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More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles.