What Is It? - #67

S

SifuPhil

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
It's too cold to play
On this cold, cold, cold day
So I thought I would throw
A What Is It your way!

Today's What Is it is 4" long, made of wrought iron and hails from the 17th century. It is presently worth over $2,000 on the antiques market.

mystery antique 71.jpg

WHAT IS IT?
 

No one is guessing ....I guess you must have us all too stumped to even hazard a guess this time. It looks to me like it expands, clamps onto the (object) and then you tighten it up, and use the handle to pull/lift the object
Too fat to fit into a shoe heel, and 4" means something small. It is not fancy, so either used in the kitchen, or by a man.
The handle is short, so not for something that gets very hot, like a horse shoe. Slides to adjust, so fits something that could be different sizes.
Maybe it presses something into a curved shape ?? Some kind of a caliper ??
 
It is not fancy, so either used in the kitchen, or by a man.
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The second I saw that I knew what it was! I've seen it before! Somewhere.... It's a ...... it's a...... damn! The more I look at it the less I remember where I saw it and what the hell it was for. siiiiiiigh.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
No one is guessing ....I guess you must have us all too stumped to even hazard a guess this time.
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I just thought you all hated me ... :frown-new:

It is not fancy, so either used in the kitchen, or by a man.
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That is ... quite an observation. ;)

Maybe it presses something into a curved shape ?? Some kind of a caliper ??
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It does not press into a curved shape, nor is it a type of caliper - sorry.

Michael. said:
Opening old manhole covers?
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It would have to be a very small manhole-cover - the length of the instrument is only 4", remember. :D

ETA: I'm sorry - I didn't quite "get" that application. You're right, it might be that - but it isn't. My apologies.

Diwundrin said:
The second I saw that I knew what it was! I've seen it before! Somewhere.... It's a ...... it's a...... damn! The more I look at it the less I remember where I saw it and what the hell it was for. siiiiiiigh.
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That's what she said ...
 
Is it to do with moving cooking pots over what they used for stoves back then? They had all manner of stew pots that hung off swinging rods over a fire and big pans that slid onto grids etc. ??
(Have to get things to do with food cleared away first before I can think of anything else. )
 
The first thing that entered my head was manhole covers? (As you said very small covers)

I seem to recall we had something like that some time ago. Ancient dental tools?
 
Diwundrin said:
Is it to do with moving cooking pots over what they used for stoves back then? They had all manner of stew pots that hung off swinging rods over a fire and big pans that slid onto grids etc. ??
(Have to get things to do with food cleared away first before I can think of anything else. )
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:D No, it isn't a pot-mover, but I think I know what you're referring to, and yes, it does look a lot like it.

Michael. said:
The first thing that entered my head was manhole covers? (As you said very small covers)
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For very small utility workers. ;)

I seem to recall we had something like that some time ago. Ancient dental tools?
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DING! DING! DING!

We have a winna'!!!

Michael got it, folks! It's an old dental tool called a dental pelican and this one is probably either French or Italian. It was used for extractions, but I won't get into the gory details here - just indulge your imaginations. :cool:

Congratulations Michael, and thanks all for your answers!
 
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