Thursday, February 25, 2010

Set 325

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for some of my best posts.



1861. 32" long:




























1862. Approximately 36" diameter, in the 1820s a new use was found for this wagon wheel rim which they hung in the town square, the idea here is to determine the new purpose for it:



























1863. About 8' long:
























1864. 9" tall, from the 1500s:




























1865. Almost 7' tall:




























1866. Around 8" long, from the 1850s, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses on this device:

Larger image





Larger image

























Answers:

1861. This device was used to tie corn shocks:




























1862. The wagon wheel rim was hung in the town square to be used as a fire alarm, it was rung by hand with a piece of metal back in the day when every man in the town was a volunteer fireman.



























1863. A harrow, after land was plowed the harrow was pulled over the soil to break up large clumps of dirt.
























1864. A rushlight, a small torch made by soaking the dried pith of a rush plant in fat:




























1865. A gum tree smokehouse used for curing meat with smoke, this tree section was cut around 1870 and was originally roofed with clapboards.



Another use for a large tree was to make a barn out of it:

Larger image

























1866. A trap for animals, it has two barrels for firing projectiles and two barbs on the end for holding the animal fast, patent number 17,279:

Larger image




It was on display with some knife pistols:

Larger image


A couple more knife pistols:

Larger image



Larger image




















To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile.















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








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

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Set 324

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for some of my best posts.



1855. Around 7" long:

Larger image


























1856. 60" tall:

Larger image

























1857. 42" long, submitted by a visitor who is looking to find the purpose of these solid brass rods:

Larger image
Close-up






















1858. 6-1/2" tall:

























1859. 5" long, another unidentified piece of hardware:

Larger image

























1860. 12" diameter:

























Answers:


1855. A Linstock that was utilized by the gun captain to ignite a cannon, it used a smoldering match rope that was soaked in potassium nitrate. It's missing its long wood handle.

Larger image


























1856. A Chandler & Price treadle operated press with which one man could print over 1000 pages per hour, c.1910.

Larger image

























1857. Propeller shafts for small boats:

Larger image
Close-up






















1858. A fire grenade, it was thrown onto a fire, when the glass broke it released chemicals that would extinguish the flames.

























1859. Haven't been able to verify any of the guesses on this piece of hardware:

Larger image

























1860. An anti tank mine:


















To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile.















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








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

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Set 323

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for some of my best posts.



1849. The sphere is about 2-1/2" diameter, take a look at Neatorama for more guesses on this one and a chance to win a T-shirt:

Larger image


























1850. This 12' long chain was sent in by a visitor who is looking to find its exact purpose:

Larger image






























1851. 3-1/2" diameter, this unidentified item was also submitted by a visitor:


























1852. Approximately 54" long:

Larger image


It was patented in the 1890s
























1853. Around 7" long:

Larger image
Close-up























1854. About 30" long, from the late 1700s:

Larger image
























Answers:

1849. A fog nozzle for a fireman's hose, it was a predecessor to today's nozzle where a twist of the tip can change the water pattern from straight stream to various fog patterns. Years ago the fog nozzle was favored but currently the straight stream is preferred.

Larger image


Another similar nozzle:

Larger image

























1850. Haven't been able to verify any of the guesses for this one, the most popular suggestions are:
- gun cleaning chain
- fish stringer

Larger image






























1851. A device used for darning stockings:


























1852. A corn harvester, it was pulled between rows of corn by a horse, and the two blades on the sides would cut the stalks. Text on it reads "Dain's Safety Corn Cutter, Dain Mfg. Co., Carrollton, Mo."

Larger image

Patent number 572,967
























1853. A Wade Fiber Phonograph Needle Cutter No. 2, patent number 1,212,292:

Larger image
Close-up



Larger image























1854. A wooden saddle used on pack animals to transport materials to the western territory during the late 1700s.

Larger image















To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile.















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








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