Mrs.BurtonRW and I spent the day antiquing in Columbia, PA, and ran across this little oddity sitting at the front counter of one of the shops.

The proprietor has no idea what it is and he hasn't found anyone who has been able to tell him either.

I suggested it might be a salesman's sample of a naval contact mine. I was joking, of course, but I also wasn't the first person to suggest it.

Anyone have any idea? There's no prize for getting it right - just bragging rights.





-Rob

I am guessing some type of soil aeration device? Those crazy Amish are always trying to reinvent the wheel.

quote:

Originally posted by AirmanJeff:
I am guessing some type of soil aeration device? Those crazy Amish are always trying to reinvent the wheel.

That was the first thing that popped into my head as well. No idea if I’m right though.

quote:

Originally posted by AirmanJeff:
I am guessing some type of soil aeration device? Those crazy Amish are always trying to reinvent the wheel.

We thought of that, too, but there's no hole for any kind of axle, no loop or bail to attach it to anything... it would be a matter of tossing it across the lawn - and the spikes, aside from being uneven in length, aren't nearly long enough for that anyway.

-Rob

I have never seen anything like it, but my first guess is that it was used for milling/processing something in a rotary tumbler to break it down into smaller pieces. Around where I live in a 19th century mining town we sometimes find small iron balls that were tumbled with ore in … “ball mills” to break it down for further refining. I have one such ball about 2 inches in diameter.

Old school dodgeball. People were tougher back then.

Kidney stone, at least that's what it felt like.

Or...it could be used against those pesky war elephants.

Old timey sex toy.

I have no idea what it is.
But have y’all ever thought that somebody, several decades back, just thought one day “I’m gonna build something just to make future generations ask questions.”?

With unlimited funds, I’d seriously consider building a giant left foot out of concrete near a property line on my place. Then, years from now, archaeologists would shut down the entire area looking for the right foot.....
Probably just one reason i don’t need extra money.
Anyway, sorry for the thread drift.

Are the metal spines that are under the wooden part actually anchored in metal or just "pushed" in the wood?

A friend of mine says maybe a buoy used inside a bell buoy for striking noise.

Dryer ball prototype

quote:

Originally posted by MagicHorse:
Are the metal spines that are under the wooden part actually anchored in metal or just "pushed" in the wood?

Hard to tell, but since they vary in length and some are nearly flush with the surface, I'm going to assume they're all driven in.

I like the "ball mill" idea. Columbia has no shortage of old industrial buildings. If it's a local artifact, that might make sense.

I like the striker idea, too, but again - no apparent way to suspend it.

-Rob

19th century yoga ball.

Honestly, I don’t know, but it looks like it could be used in a threshing machine of some kind.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Honestly, I don’t know, but it looks like it could be used in a threshing machine of some kind.

That was my thought also....

WOW ! That's interesting.
I'm also thinking it may have tumbled around inside an area.
Doesn't tanning hides uses tumbling?

No readily apparent attachment point(s) might indicate it was free-floating/tumbling.
I like the ball mill and threshing machine ideas, or perhaps a spray paint can agitator prototype.
I don’t know what purpose the iron ring served; maybe to help hold the wood together?

ETA: I didn't notice the gloved hands in the second picture at first. Now I know the approximate size.

quote:

Originally posted by hudr:
I have no idea what it is.
But have y’all ever thought that somebody, several decades back, just thought one day “I’m gonna build something just to make future generations ask questions.”?

I'm thinking this also. Maybe just a conversation piece.
When I look at it, I can't see any use for it really.
Maybe I'm wrong. Gonna set notifications for this thread in the event someone does know its use. Interesting for sure.