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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: TNVFL3 on March 05, 2013, 04:06:06 PM

Title: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: TNVFL3 on March 05, 2013, 04:06:06 PM
My grandfather bought this at a auction in Tennessee. He is pretty knowledgable about this stuff, but isn't sure what this is. I have researched on the internet but cannot identify it. As you can see in the pictures it is cone shaped, has a divider about a third of the way up with a piece that slides out. If anyone has any help it would be much appreciated. Thanks
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: KC on March 05, 2013, 04:07:58 PM
Dimensions please!
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: TNVFL3 on March 05, 2013, 04:10:32 PM
12in at top and 26in at bottom
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: bigwull on March 05, 2013, 04:18:09 PM
what about the up & down measurement...
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: TNVFL3 on March 05, 2013, 04:21:25 PM
Sorry if its not already obvious, I am new to this... its 30in tall
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: bigwull on March 05, 2013, 04:54:40 PM
by a process of elimination..i,d say it has got something to do with a delivery system..
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: sapphire on March 05, 2013, 05:39:51 PM
Does this have a solid 'base' or is it open clear through? (ignoring the 'slot' device)

It's just striking me as a type of 'funnel' that would be used to fill large grain sacks.  Inverted, the sack could be temporarily affixed around the rim while filling. 

Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: bigwull on March 05, 2013, 06:06:06 PM
you could be correct Sapphire..the sliding slot..could be to allow the correct amount of whatever..through,.or to close off when needed...
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: Ipcress on March 05, 2013, 06:36:32 PM
It's a lovely piece of wood. Really look great in a country home.
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: Ipcress on March 05, 2013, 06:40:44 PM
Does this have a solid 'base' or is it open clear through? (ignoring the 'slot' device)

It's just striking me as a type of 'funnel' that would be used to fill large grain sacks.  Inverted, the sack could be temporarily affixed around the rim while filling. 



Yeah, be nice to see it inverted
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: mart on March 05, 2013, 06:46:54 PM
I have never seen anything similar as its sitting !! The wood appears quite old and looks like its been oiled !! But if it came from a gristmill,, that would explain the oily sheen !!  But I have not seen anything similar used in a gristmill !!
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: greenacres on March 05, 2013, 07:29:33 PM
Really charming!
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: xmelax38 on March 05, 2013, 08:31:15 PM
That is very nice. I am no expert at all, but when I first looked at it, I thought it was part of a butter churn (just a different type of butter churn). Mainly because of the shape/color/style of the outside.  I know I am wayyyy off on that, lol.

Whatever it is, it is in very beautiful condition from what I see.
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: cogar on March 06, 2013, 10:18:19 AM
Mybe a "curing" barrel ..... where a liquid would be put in the barrel and the item(s) to be cured or flavored were placed on the shelf or rack? ??? ???
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: greenacres on March 06, 2013, 10:41:42 AM
http://www.farmcollector.com/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=2147483839&tag=antique%20farm%20tools
I found this great web site. You could check there.
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: greenacres on March 06, 2013, 11:02:18 AM
If you look down, as in the last photo, there are slats in the bottom. It could be some kind of strainer!
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: KC on March 06, 2013, 11:33:02 AM
Need to verify = are both ends open?

Does the wooden "shelf" appear to have liquid staining on it?

Are there any wear marks on either end.  Notice the double ridged opening - as if you could secure a bag with a tightening cord.
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: cogar on March 06, 2013, 11:59:01 AM
Good one, KC,  :D ..... could securely tie that cheesecloth over the top opening.
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: mart on March 06, 2013, 08:34:45 PM
Mybe a "curing" barrel ..... where a liquid would be put in the barrel and the item(s) to be cured or flavored were placed on the shelf or rack? ??? ???

I thought about that, but the way its made doesn`t look tight enough to hold a liquid !!
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: fancypants on March 06, 2013, 08:48:40 PM
Perhaps the double-rim was inserted into a ferrule/opening at a 'feed' (maw) location for the raw grain to be 'metered' through before grinding , as a funnel (wide portion goes up) .....

Having seen only a couple of old stone gristmills (waterpowered) in operation , I will comment that they seemed to grind rather slowly .... seems like they all had good-sized feed-hoppers/bins , not small like your cool little feller , TNVFL3 .

I'm in the dark on this one ... sorry for just guessin' !
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: bigwull on March 07, 2013, 03:46:29 AM
Perhaps the double-rim was inserted into a ferrule/opening at a 'feed' (maw) location for the raw grain to be 'metered' through before grinding , as a funnel (wide portion goes up) .....

Having seen only a couple of old stone gristmills (waterpowered) in operation , I will comment that they seemed to grind rather slowly .... seems like they all had good-sized feed-hoppers/bins , not small like your cool little feller , TNVFL3 .

I'm in the dark on this one ... sorry for just guessin' !
why be sorry...we,ve all been guessing....but i,m sure that when someone finally says Eureka...we.ll all applaud.....
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: cogar on March 07, 2013, 07:08:59 AM
The old folks had many different ways of preserving their food. The following is but one example.

My grandparents on my mother’s side were farmers and I remember many things about my visiting them during my pre-teen years. They lived in a single-story house and there was a small doorway in the kitchen that opened to a steep flight of stairs to the attic area and which were akin to climbing up a stepladder.

Now hanging on nails or pegs on the sidewall of that staircase were several long strings on which each had been “threaded” with a couple or three dozen peeled apple slices and hung there to “dry”.

Those apple slices sure didn’t look edible to me because they were kinda dark brown, all shriveled up and yucky looking …. but I think every time I went “investigating” up those stairs my grandmother would warn me …… “Don’t you eat any of those apple slices because they will swell up in your tummy and then you will be wishing you hadn’t eaten them”.

Her “warnings” is probably why I often remember about those strings of dried apple slices and what she used them for. And if the truth be known, I’ve surely eaten something that she prepared via use of those dried apple slices ….. but I just didn’t know it. 

Cheers
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: mart on March 07, 2013, 08:36:17 AM
Some type of food storage is what I think on this one but,, I have not thought of anything it would be suitable for made as it is !!  But may be way off base !!
Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: KC on March 07, 2013, 01:17:19 PM
Was just trying to rule out as a liquid for curing.

But I believe it was for tying to a feed sack (or like item) and filling with corn/rice/etc.  The moveable item stopped/started the flow.

Was for a small operation (on an individual farm).

Title: Re: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Post by: bigwull on March 07, 2013, 01:35:13 PM
Was just trying to rule out as a liquid for curing.

But I believe it was for tying to a feed sack (or like item) and filling with corn/rice/etc.  The moveable item stopped/started the flow.

Was for a small operation (on an individual farm).


posts 5 & 6...more so 6..figured that out...