Here are six sent in by readers. Do you know what they are?
Answers to the October 2022 items will appear in the December 2022 issue.
Answers for new items in this issue must be received by October 7, 2022.
A. Handle/holder measures 9 inches in length and the cable is 14 inches in length. The opening at the end measures 1/4-inch and it is at a slight angle. Almost looks like it could hold a rod of some sort.
Likely an early arc welder electrode (rod) holder.
Identified by Andy Hastings, Rio Vista, Calif.
“Back in the 1930s, most farmers couldn’t afford a welding machine,” Andy explains. “And most people don’t know you can arc weld with a ground lead, rod holder and a few charged tractor batteries. Been a lot of broken 4-wheelers out in the mountains that have been put together by using batteries. The giveaway was the little clamp to hold the rod.”
Photo submitted by Dan Hanson, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
B. Tool measures 7-1/2 inches long. Made of aluminum. Pearshaped cavities are textured on the inside. Hinge opens 2-1/2 inches. No markings.
Croquette mold used to make a recipe for mock chicken. Bits of pork or veal were pressed together using the cavities of this tool. The pressed meat was removed from the tool, a wooden skewer was inserted (to emulate the bone in a chicken leg) and then the formed pieces were baked or deep fried.
Identified by Royce Chambers, Bird City, Kan.; Richard Bader, Middletown, N.Y.; Randy Winland, Prospect, Ohio; Mike Intlekofer, Bellevue, Wash.; Travis Carpenter, Melrose, Mont.; and David McGatha, El Dorado Springs, Mo.
“This is from the days when chicken was more expensive than veal and pork,” Royce says. “I have a few of these and used them in our meat markets over the years,” adds Travis. “We would use ground veal or pork, season it and use the pliers (or ‘chicken leg maker’) to grab the product and then place a wooden skewer in the small hole that you see on the small end. (You have to dip the maker in cold water each time to avoid the meat from sticking, and use the skewer to clean off the edges of tool). After releasing the mock chicken leg from the tool, we would roll them in corn flake crumbs. People loved them because they were easy to cook and tasted great. They were a big hit with the kids.”
Photo submitted by John Barkley, Sioux City, Iowa.
C. Tool measures approximately 9 by 11 inches. Marked US PAT 44361??? PEND 4527607.
Unidentified. Photo submitted by Marlo DeJager, Doon, Iowa.
D. Measures 8 inches long. Marked PAT OCT 8, ’83.
Seven-in-one household combination tool. Identified by Nick Caldiero, Afton, N.Y. “It has a variety of uses,” Nick says. “It was the Boy Scout implement of its day.” See Patent No. 286,458. Photo submitted by Bob Wittersheim, Carleton, Mich.
E. Measures about 1-1/2 by 10 inches. Tapered ends have 1/4-inch openings. Ends were put on with a rolled bead much like and adjustable stovepipe and soldered. Openings in the cylinder have been punched from the inside before assembly. They are not uniform in depth or alignment.
Torpedo Guiro percussion musical instrument. Photo submitted by Cal Miner, Willmar, Minn.
F. Wrench measures 10 inches long. Marked Westcott the Keystone Mfg. and Buffalo NY USA 10 inch No. 80. Wrench has tapered jaw with teeth.
Keystone-Westcott adjustable “S” wrench. Nick Caldiero believes it may have been built for use on Fordson tractors. Howard Sager, Mequon, Wis., believes it to be a Caterpillar track-adjusting wrench for old Caterpillar D6, D7 and D8 crawlers. Photo provided by Don Fritz, Britt, Iowa.
To submit photos:
Send prints to Farm Collector, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609. Send digital images to editor@farmcollector.com.
- Photos should be taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece. We cannot guarantee every photo will be published, nor can we respond to inquiries regarding when photos will be published. No photos will be returned.
- Digital photos should be sent as .jpgs at a minimum of 300 dpi.
To identify an item:
Send answers (with your name and address) to Farm Collector, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609. Email responses may be sent to editor@farmcollector.com.
Answers for new items shown in this issue must be received by October 7, 2022.
