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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: cogar on November 17, 2010, 01:19:49 PM
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It is metal, ……. gold and silvery in color ……. and the pointed end has a fairly sharp edge and is plated a bright silver color, ….. me thinks either chrome or nickel because it has never “tarnished” in all the years we have had it.
The other side is a mirror image of the one shown.
If no one knows or guesses what it is I will post a clue tomorrow or the next day.
Cheers
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Letter opener?
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A fancy "pie venter" ??
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First thoughts would agree with Tales,,, especially with the little bird carrying the letter...
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Is it for cuticles?
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I think it's a tool for bloodletting.
(http://www.worthpoint.com/pmimages/images1/1/0608/05/1_4ac4d6ea6a1b875f50317fe9f6849f96.jpg)
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My second guess is an ink eraser.
Something along these lines...Signed Unger Brothers sterling silver Art Nouveau desk top ink eraser with sterling silver handle. High repoussé floral pattern of a woman with long flowing hair. The tool measures 6" in length by 1-1/8" in width by 1" in depth. Hallmarked on the edge "Sterling 925 Fine" with double Unger Brothers hallmark. [Circa 1900]
from http://www.victoriana.com/silver/artnouveau.htm
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I'm voting for bloodletting tool with Curious!
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me too! wow, learning alot here...
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The pic CC posted came from a Worthpoint archived eBay auction with the title of "ANTIQUE INK ERASERS - MEDICAL BLOODLETTING TOOLS". http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-ink-erasers-medical-bloodletting-tools
They are actually ink erasers and are used by using the steel tip/blade to scrap away paper fibers containing the ink. Not like rubber erasers we are all familiar with. Draftsmen is one trade group that used the steel erasers.
"In the past, abrasive ink erasers were sharp pieces of metal that were used to wear away the paper, but these are no longer much in use." http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5019302_ink-eraser-work.html or a 1905 description is here http://books.google.com/books?id=DeE0AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=using+a+steel+eraser+to+remove+ink+from+paper&source=bl&ots=RZ5hSjiBH5&sig=QrKoLJDKnoAFiJpdHwg2uleL6zw&hl=en&ei=Rl7kTOLrFZO2sAPsnslm&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=using%20a%20steel%20eraser%20to%20remove%20ink%20from%20paper&f=false
Waiting for cogar to weigh in on this and let us know what the object really is. ???
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My first inclination was a vintage fingernail cleaner - to clean under nails - they even made them with fine silver for the ladies' dressing tables. This one has a file attached with it as well....
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterling-Silver-Fingernail-File-Wood-Handle-/260687727446?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item3cb2330b56 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterling-Silver-Fingernail-File-Wood-Handle-/260687727446?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item3cb2330b56)
Here's a different one http://cgi.ebay.com/STERLING-SILVER-VICTORIAN-ROSES-LADIES-FINGER-NAIL-TOOL-/370440536142 (http://cgi.ebay.com/STERLING-SILVER-VICTORIAN-ROSES-LADIES-FINGER-NAIL-TOOL-/370440536142)
and another style http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/sterling-manicure-finger-nail-tool-ornate (http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/sterling-manicure-finger-nail-tool-ornate)
But, with the bird and envelope I would say a vintage office tool. Reminds me of an item that we would use to place/press color overlays on maps to highlight them (burnishing tool). So I would have to say I am with wayward on this one and it is an ink scraper However, most people try to sell them as fleams.
Interesting enough...bleeding tools went out of style/use so they utilized them for ink removal tools initially. Here's a patent based on the style:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=6CcAAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=46,032&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false (http://www.google.com/patents?id=6CcAAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=46,032&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false)
To prove the point that this is a debated subject...take a look at this thread...titled "The Ink Eraser Fight"
http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-2903.html (http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-2903.html)
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Toothpick? Nail Cleaner? sure looks like it would function well scraping something out. Beside the bloodletting stuff is making me quizey :o
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You got it Wayward, it is an eraser.
And it will work for both pencil and ink. The wife tried it when we first found out what it was.
Anyway, here is the clue I promised.
A letter in the mail, .... + .... a pencil without an eraser .... = an eraser