What is it? Set 134

Thanks for taking the time to find that, I appreciate everyone's help in researching the tools that I post each week.

Rob

781 - A couple of possibilities here, but looking at the leading edge it wouldn't last very long scraping up stuff. So I'll guess it was an Ice Sieve. Used to keep the channel open from chips/debris while cutting/harvesting ice. 785 - Really intrigued me with its diminutive size, so I mucked around till I found the most likely patent number. I think it is 435,590 "Grappling Hook". It was claimed to be used for retrieving objects from water wells. i.e. dippers, buckets, anything that had been dropped in that would stop the well from functioning properly. See:

I figured the 'hold-open' device would not be required if there could be a helper where the pickup was to occur.

Dave

Why do you say "probably under water"?

I found this article about logging forests that have been flooded for reservoirs, but this tool is too old for that:

Rob

It does work in a similar manner, maybe the same person got a couple of patents on the same day for two different hooks or he got this patent and then modified the tool and kept the same date. I'm guessing that the one on my site isn't spring loaded, but I'll ask the owner of it, though he's out of town for a couple of days so it will be a while until I get an answer. Thanks for finding that.

Rob

Five of the six have been answered correctly this week, still not sure about the last one:

780. Audio tape splicer

781. Coal shovel

782. Carpet stretcher

783. Camera lens tripod collar

784. Adding machine

785. I was all set to agree with those who say it's a log grabber, but I also think that the well grappling hook idea has merit, considering the small size of it.

Several new photos and links can be found on the answer page, along with one additional link concerning my latest gadget purchase:

Rob

785 may be a grappling hook for logs, but I respectfully suggest it isn't for use in inaccessible places... Suppose you drop it down a well, or into a river or lake, and it grabs something you can't lift... then what?

Rob H.:

Really! It doesn't look nearly strong enough to be used for that sort of work. I'd expect those wiry bars to start bending apart the first time it was thrust into a pile of coal.

Then you need part 'B' of the same patent. A grappling device which is used to snag and unlock part 'A' grappling hooks.

I agree that it isn't strong enough to shovel coal into a fire, I was thinking that it was for removing clinkers, retreiving hot coals to be placed in a foot warmer, or whatever other reason they would have to move hot coal. The wiry bars being used to sift the ashes. One of my tool books has three similar shovels, for coke, potatoes, and ice, but they're all reinforced in the front and have a hand grip on the end of the handle. Since it was marked as being a coal shovel, I'm going to go with that for now; I've looked but haven't been able to find one on the web like it.

Rob

"R.H." wrote in news:iodTg.6380$OE1.5062 @tornado.ohiordc.rr.com:

Rob, I have to echo what's been said before -- thanks! I look forward to your photos. I am usually in a fog about all of them, but it is a lot of fun. You've posted a couple of things I have sent in. Wish I had more to add.

Thanks again an keep 'em coming! Gary

According to Charlie Wine :

That might be a use for the notches which I commented on. One rope to pull up the weight, and then another to pull up on both notches to open the jaws so you can pull it up.

Enjoy, DoN.

R.H. and I (Mark Brader) write:

That's still thrusting it into a pile of coal, though.

Fair enough. It's not like I've ever actually dealt with a coal fire.

Just posted an image of the carpet stretcher from an old Sears catalog where it sold for 37 cents:

Not necessarily under water. We had those things (phone company, early '80s) just as "finger savers". Seems it was a significant source of accidents, people having to manually open the grab jaws over a pole beforehand.

Hi Rob,

I'm no expert, but most patents are for a method coupled with a design. If you take the time to read the description (it isn't very long) you will see towards the end that it mentions:

"My grab or device is to be constructed of several different sizes to suit wells of different bores or diameter."

I've noticed other patents that end up looking different once being manufactured. The way they work though is the same.

With this thing only being 12 inches tall I seriously doubt it was ever used to lift poles or logs as has been suggested. It simply would not be heavy/strong enough to do that. Shoot you could easily have it sitting on the supper table as a center/conversation piece. I don't think people have noticed it isn't very big...

Hi Rob,

After studying the answer extra images, I think that there may have been a spring at one time. I think it would have been a pull spring (can't think of the proper term) with this design though, rather than the original compression spring shown on the suggested patent page.

Take a look at my doctored image where I highlighted in yellow where I suspect a spring should go:

I would be curious to know approximately how much this thing weighs too, when you get a chance to ask more about it.

I did some more patent searching and was surprised with how many "grapple" devices there were for fishing out items from wells. The aforementioned patent is the only one even close to resembling the item in question though. At least that I've found...

SNIP

Hey Rob,

Maybe not on the web, but I have one like it in my back-yard as a decorative item.. Bought it for 2 bucks at an auction, so I've no idea either.

Take care.

Brian Lawson, Bothwell, Ontario.

According to Leon Fisk :

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Agreed.

I did -- which is why I did not suggest it was for serious log or telephone pole manipulation. It would suffice for fireplace logs, but would probably be overkill for the purpose -- unless they were at the bottom of a pit and otherwise difficult to access.

I like the "recover things from wells" description.

Enjoy, DoN.