Set 465

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2701. 30" long:

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2702. Sent in by someone who is looking to identify this item:

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It is 3" long when closed:

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2703. 15" long:



































2704. Submitted by a reader of this site who would like to find the purpose of this device:

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2705. Around 11" long:

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2706. About 12" tall, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses and a chance to win a T-shirt:



































Answers:



2701. This is a trap for catching grouse on the prairie, an ear of corn was placed on the top, when a bird attempted to eat the bait it fell through the hinged trap door into the box. A sign next to it said "It was not uncommon...to find three to a dozen birds in the trap at the same time. Profit for selling the grouse was nearly two dollars a dozen in 1864."

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2702. A Cottle cartilage crusher, it was used prior to using cartilage for grafting purposes. In use, cartilage was placed in the trough, the lid was closed, and then tapped with a mallet once or twice, until the cartilage was soft and malleable, but still in one piece, so that it could be sewn in place.

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It is 3" long when closed:

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2703. A tinsmith's creasing swedge, it fits into an anvil and can be adjusted for various lengths.



































2704. Also no answer for this device, though it resembles an optician's lens tester:

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2705. A shoe soling tool, patent number 1,475,287:





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2706. This is a machine for making rope from binder twine or other cord. The video below shows how it was used:

























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.































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Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the entire post.








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