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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: hosman321 on June 29, 2010, 03:02:16 PM
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I have no idea why I bid on this, probably just because it's old. I'll use it as a little candle holder or something. Judging by the tiny size of it, I don't think it's a skillet like they said. I think it may be the bottom of a finger/oil lamp?? Any ideas?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260625189350&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
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Interesting! I thought it was part of an iron Betty lamp, but the shape is all wrong.
These guys may be able to help. It's a forum for cast iron collectors, mostly collecting cookware, but one of them might know what this is.
http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl (http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
Whatever it is, I like it! Looking forward to finding out what it's use was!
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I might have found it. This illustration shows an 18th century tinderbox:
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E3XW_L9n6b0/Svzz1juYqiI/AAAAAAAAA7g/gSpR-PMJPwk/s400/TINDER+BOX+5.bmp)
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Here's a tinderbox with a candleholder top:
(http://pics.rubylane.com/graphics/shops/lynnenelsonantiques/LN395.1F.jpg)
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Those look super close tales! I'm wondering what the tabs on the inside are for on the one I won? Holding the lid somehow? Also, it doesn't really look like it sits flat. Hmmm
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It also looks heavier than the other examples. Not sure at all, just a thought. Great price you got it for!
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I think it may have been a tinderbox. The tabs were maybe for striking? Something like this? Or maybe the tabs held up a piece, like that one has the removeable piece.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Late-18th-Early-19th-Century-Tinderbox-w-Iron-Striker-/300421636017
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The walls on this one just look so much thicker. Hmmm...
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Just doesn't feel right that it doesn't sit flat. As if it was to sit on top of something else. I would bet the stops were for a lid!
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Is it possible it was a lid? I realize that would then make the numbers upside down, but the resemblance of this
to an old pressure cooker lid from home way, way back really struck a cord with me.....as well as a later steamer/strainer
pot I found for my daughter at a thrift shop. In both of those the 'tabs' fit into 'slots' in the rim of the pot, enabling you to turn
and 'lock' it in place.
Just a thought ;)
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After looking again, I would have to sapphire may be on to something. Lid or Cap, It does appears the numbers would be right side up when turned upside down, or right side up if you are a cap ;) But not sure about the cooking thing. That little handle would get really hot using this as a cooking device, and would be hard to grip with a oven mit.
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It kinda reminds me of the Black Iron caps that were used for covering the fill-spouts for domestic fuel-oil furnace tanks back when I was a kid .... if so , it could have been fitted with a seal (at some point in time) .
It sure does not look like any frying pan I've ever seen .
I'm really guessing that it's not 1786c , though .
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Dangit, that would seriously stink if the number was a part/style number for something newer! I'm starting to think it's not the date though. :( It is a bit strange though that the number would be upside down. But not unheard of. Regularjoe, I'm trying to look up caps like you suggested. But I can't find any online. Any ideas where I can look for one like you mentioned?
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Pulling a flip-flop on you here. What if is fitted on to something like I mentioned.....but from below? Like a drip pan or seal of some sort ::)
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I haven't seen many pieces that put a date on the side....it is usually a part number!
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I went through about 3k on-line images looking for fuel tank/fuel filler caps .
Came up with a few , none exact to your item , hosman321 .
I'm of the opinion that so many 'vintage' oil tanks (& their caps) wound up in the junkyards .
It was common for these types of caps to be slightly convex on top , as well as having a chain or ring attached .
There were normally tangs (or one tang) cast into them , for gripping the slippery devils , when wet from weather or fuel .
Below are images of a modern cap w/chain , a cap assembly from a horse-drawn fuel tanker , and an iron cap from an old John Deere tractor .
Perhaps searching through old iron & brass gate valve collections might turn up results (have not done so yet) .
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You know, it sure looks like it could have been a fuel cap for a tractor or something, but the fact that the numbers would be upside down when it was in use really bothers me. It goes against the "Three F's" of Form, Fit and Function. However, I wonder if it could be a cap for draining oil from the BOTTOM of an engine?
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Talesof , although I'm not 100% certain what the iron item was used on , I am 100% sure that no such fitting would be used on a low point (oil , diesel , or water) on any engine .
All drain plugs/petcocks are threaded & have a seal , o-ring or gasket - in order to withstand temps , pressures & vibration encountered with working (internal combustion) engines .
My first thought , when I saw this item , was a post-cap for a tennis net (yup , still have some questions about the iron thingie) .
I will say that I think either the iron item - or the item it mates to - has got an archimedian "self-tensioning' fit .
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Gotcha Regular Joe! Thanks for clue'ing me in!
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Ok...this thing is driving me crazy. Got it today. Looks turn of the century to me. Circa 1900-1915? The hole isn't even big enough for a finger to fit partially through. So I have a feeling it hooked onto something or had a chain on it? ???
I just gotta know what this cap thing was for. Gives me kind of an automotive vibe. Some kind of radiator cap for an early car? Thanks for any ideas! I sure don't have a use for it since it's not very old. Who knows, maybe it's some kind of part somebody out there has been searching for! It'd be nice to be able to put it back up on ebay under the correct description. Not a skillet the size of a Coke can. Maybe I'll make my $15 back.
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I guess I should have read regjoe's post better, I think it is that kind of cap. Wonder what exactly it was used on?
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I do not know either...I was thinking more along the lines of a hit 'n miss engine but have not had time to look into that. Maybe for a tractor? I do not think it is automotive but I have no experience with old engines so who knows? It fits in two slots and then turns to lock to keep it from falling off or blowing off. Maybe a steam engine? Any old machinery or steam engine meets in your area? There are a few here in the Midwest and I am sure some antique machine aficionado could look at that and tell you what it was for, what it went to, and what year it was. I do not think it was for any pressure device. Could be the bottom (or top) of an oil cup?
I do not think it was for a tennis post cap. Those were threaded so kids like me years ago would not have been able to do a half-turn on it and take it home.
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It could have been a "cap" for an oil drum or for a 'fill spout' on an oil tank(er).
I wouldn't worry about that number being right-side-up or wrong side down, one often finds such old items like that. Oftentimes it was the fault of the "mold maker".
Those numbers have to be engraved in reverse ...... and sometimes upsidedown ..... and unless one is careful its easy to get "started out" the wrong way. And if you do, you probably won't realize it until the 1st casting is made ..... and by then its too late. ;D
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Came up with another idea while searching for oil tank/drum caps............wha t about a gas tank cap from an old vehicle ( truck/tractor, maybe)? Unlikely to be in cast iron ....but who knows! ::)
:D
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well just to put my 10 pence worth in i think it could be the water out let cap off a horse drawn fire tender I'm into vintage tractors and have seen things like this before then the hose would connect onto where this cap came off
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Great input danny!! Somehow I was picturing this attached to some sort of large, old vehicle. Never thought of the old fire 'trucks' ;)
Definitely makes more sense as containing water is much less of an issue then something flammable.
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Did find a pic showing an oil tank cover like regularjoe posted.......
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Thanks for all the input guys! That would be pretty cool if it was a water cap for a horse drawn fire tender. At least now I know where to start, I never would have figured that out. Maybe I'll email a few collector's clubs and see if they have seen one like it. Thanks!