April 2017 Mystery Tool A
Fruit picker, minus a long wooden pole. Identified by Harold Kaufman, Porterfield, Wis., and John Liebermann, Colorado Springs, Colo. See patent no. 1,255,596. Photo submitted by Al Jeske, Browerville, Minn.
Patent no. 1,255,596: Fruit picker. Patent awarded to Herman Gielow, Palatine, Ill., Feb. 5, 1918.
April 2017 Mystery Tool B
Scrub brush handle, missing the replaceable head. Identified by Cathy Schoellig, Elgin, Ore. Photo submitted by Mike Intlekofer, Bellevue, Wash.
April 2017 Mystery Tool C
Unidentified. Possibly used in transplanting small plants. Photo submitted by Mike Intlekofer, Bellevue, Wash.
April 2017 Mystery Tool D
Unidentified. Photo submitted by Richard Bader, Middletown, N.Y.
April 2017 Mystery Tool E
Unidentified. Possibly used to adjust the angle and hold another arm with a matching end of serrated ribs. Photo submitted by Burton Janvrin, Decatur, Ill.
April 2017 Mystery Tool F
Tobacco cutter, “designed to cut and divide soft substances, and particularly for the purpose of reducing the common plug or manufactured tobacco to the form of fine-cut.” Identified by William Evans, St. Joseph, Mo.; Lyle Brand, Powell, Wyo.; and Darrel P. Otto, Crystal Lake, Ill. See patent no. 55,861. Photo submitted by Richard Bader, Middletown, N.Y.
Patent no. 55,861: Tobacco cutter. Patent awarded to Elijah Holmes, Lynn, Mass., June 26, 1866.
