September 2016 Mystery Tool A
Unidentified. Photo submitted by G. Krueger, San Antonio, Texas.
September 2016 Mystery Tool B
Barrel pump. Used in a grocery, feed or hardware store to hold and dispense kerosene, vinegar and other fluids. An up-and-down motion of the handle and piston caused the fluid to rise and flow out the spout to the customer’s jug or pail. The one shown here is likely missing parts. Identified by Richard Bader, Middletown, N.Y.; James H. Utz, Aylor, Va.; Lew Payne, Remsen, N.Y.; Garrison Brown, Eastville, Va.; John D. Crockett, East Falmouth, Mass.; Donald Barrow, Oxford, Pa.; Fred Space, Sussex, N.J.; Nick Cerbo, Parsippany, N.J.; and John Nagyiski, Felton, Del. See patent 681,807 for a similar item. Photo submitted by Ray Leary, Herndon, Va.
Patent no. 681,807: Liquid pump. Patent granted to Thomas Elwood Moon, Sabina, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1901.
September 2016 Mystery Tool C
Shoe stretcher (missing its wooden block forms). Identified by Richard Bader; M. Fredrickson, Lawrence, Kan. See patent 1,453,608 for a similar stretcher. Photo submitted by Linda Barden via email.
Patent no. 1,453,608: Shoe stretcher. Patent granted to William A. Sprague, Islington, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corp., Paterson, N.J., May 1, 1923.
September 2016 Mystery Tool D
Unidentified. Photo submitted by Gregory J. Leclair, Waukesha, Wis.
September 2016 Mystery Tool E
Nifty Sifter. When sifter is open (as shown in the large photo), insert it into a canister of flour or sugar. Relax the handle to capture material, then gently shake and squeeze the tool to release the material. Identified by Rosemary Smith, Norwalk, Ohio; Cleta Belle Zook, Waynoka, Okla.; and John D. Crockett. See patent no. 1,748,830. Photo submitted by Gregory J. Leclair, Waukesha, Wis.
Patent no. 1,748,830: Material receptacle and sifter. Patent assigned to Bror N. Carlson, Rockford, Ill., Feb. 25, 1930.
September 2016 Mystery Tool F
Unidentified. Photo submitted by Gregory J. Leclair, Waukesha, Wis.
