Re: What is it? XLVI

[Luigi Zanasi]

On Thursday 27 Jan 2005 9:39 am, R.H. scribbled:

#257, bottle cap opener. My parents used to have one. At least, that's what we used it for.

[Jon Haugsand]

• Matthew Newell

> 254 - a very bicycle lamp

A signal lamp? For boats or road workers.

> 255,256 no idea

255 shoemaker's tool?

256 a sewing machine?

> 257 pan handle - for the camping billycan that come in a > nest and you have the handle (that fits all) inside the > smallest - although on second thoughts it is the wrong > shape

A bottle opener?

258 is a knife sharpener - the blade sits tween the +ve and > -ve bits shown and it is pulled allong blade. the black > metal guard is to stop the blade hitting fingers if you > slip or get to the end of the knife and dont stop. > > its a seriously bad design: you're meant to put knife on > table and draw thing along blade (the black guard then hits > the table and stops injuryif you slip) - but people tend > to hold the knife in one hand and the sharpener in the > other - this lead to the knife and the knuckles coming > together ( once you have slipped the guard just diverts the > blade onto another bit of the finger). use a wall mounted > sharpener - or better still a steel.

Or a cloth cutter (aka scissors).

259 a specialist key? (in the shape of a side arm batton) > tell me it is not a police locker key! > or is a peashooter?

A silencer?

[Leon]

259 Hand Cuff Key

[R.H.]

This one isn't a lamp.

Nope

Not part of a sewing machine

Correct

Sharpener was right.

Not a silencer.

[R.H.]

Correct.

[R.H.]

I don't think it's for an electronic instrument, but the rest of your answer is correct.

[Barbara Bailey]

My husband *thinks* that it may be part of a specialized adjustable plane. More than that he's not venturing.

Barb

[Dave Balderstone]

It's a bottle opener, for those of us who remember caps that weren't twist-off.

djb

[Jon Haugsand]

• R. H.

My children thought it was a lego man helmet. (But I think it is too big, and I cannot figure out the release/open like handle at the bottom.)

[Jonathan Wilson]

As a fan of LEGO, I can say that no helmet exists that looks like that :)

[Jon Haugsand]

• Jonathan Wilson

But maybe another plastic toy brand?

[Jon Haugsand]

• Jonathan Wilson

But maybe another plastic toy brand?

However, it really looks like metal. The inner grey part looks like something that can be rotated, i.e. some adjustment tool.

[SteveB]

New what is it question.

I bought a meat fork at a yard sale. It also came with a knife. The fork has two tines. Both items have nice bone or antler handles. They look like they are probably fifty years old.

On the meat fork, there is a folding thingus just up from the handle. It moves ninety degrees. It is wishboned shape just like the meat fork. It folds up or down. When folded down, it lays along the handle. When folded up, it is at a ninety to the handle. When it is folded up, you can sit the fork down, and the two points of the wishbone and the end of the horn handle keep the two tines off the surface you sit it on. This is the only use I can think of for the moveable piece.

Is that what it is used for, or does the piece have another/other uses?

Steve

[Emmo]

This is what it is for, to keep the fork off of the tablecloth...

[SteveB]

I am amazed once again at the things that I can learn here. Thanks for the info. My MIL and I were just discussing it. She is 86, and didn't know what it was for either. I figured something that old, that she would surely know.

I love usenet.

Steve

[Barbara Bailey]

That's what it's for.

Barb

[Glenna Rose]

If it's like ours, it's far older than 50 years. Ours was given to us by my husband's mother; it had been passed down to her from her grandmother. I'd be curious as to what yours looks like. Do you have photos?

Glenna

[R.H.]

This one isn't a toy nor an adjustment tool, and you're right, it is made of metal.

[R.H.]

Nope, it isn't any type of plane.

[R.H.]

Correct.