MWTCA December 2018 'What's It' Project (662)

[John Morris]

"What's It" Basic Rules Reminder

 

(For a full run down on this project and rules please go to: "The Patriot Woodworker and MWTCA "What's It" project")

• Only Patriot Woodworker Members are eligible to participate and receive the award.
• The MWTCA only accepts a verified source to support your answer, so one should be submitted with your answer, such as a patent, catalog entry, tool book reference, or a respectable website on the subject. Do not let these requirements prevent you from having fun and submitting educated answers on the subject without verification, we can worry about references later. All answers are welcome, as well as healthy debates regarding "What's It".
• If a verified and referenced answer is not arrived at by the end of each month's "What's It" project, a random draw will be performed for a "One Year MWTCA Club Membership".
• Only Patriot Woodworker's who participate in this "What's It" topic will be included in the random draw.

 

Ok ladies and gentlemen, we now have our "What's it" live and ready!

The image(s) below is a MWTCA "What's It" image for you to research, and tell us all here in this topic post, just what the heck is it!

 

Project Details

The information provided hereon is all the information that is provided, no further information on this item will be added.

Remember, "What's It" is not always woodworking related!

 

 

[HandyDan]

Hot iron for forming leather for horse tack.  Tight curves over horses head, leather stirrups, etc.  Flip it over and it is rounded and smooth.

 

Edited December 1, 2018 by HandyDan

[Ron Dudelston]

I agree that it is an iron for something.  What puzzles me is why there is a hole in the handle on one end but not the other end.  Does the knob on the center piece fit in there?

[Grandpadave52]

1 hour ago, Ron Dudelston said:

What puzzles me is why there is a hole in the handle on one end but not the other end.

I think the hole is so you can put the string for the name/number ID tag through it.

[HARO50]

1 hour ago, Grandpadave52 said:

I think the hole is so you can put the string for the name/number ID tag through it.

Someone was REALLY planning ahead!

John

[Gene Howe]

For making dog tag blanks....one at a time. 

[Dadio]

You put the gold dust in it to melt into bars.

[Ron Dudelston]

I blew the picture up and there is a hole on the left handle but it is horizontal.  

[HARO50]

10 minutes ago, Ron Dudelston said:

I blew the picture up and there is a hole on the left handle but it is horizontal.  

AND appears to have a string through it! Nice call, @Grandpadave52!

John

[HandyDan]

9 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

I agree that it is an iron for something.  What puzzles me is why there is a hole in the handle on one end but not the other end.  Does the knob on the center piece fit in there?

 

Look real close at the top picture where the tag string is tied.  I can see the dark shadow of a hole in that handle too.  Must be a fixture for hands free use that is not with it.  This is another tool that needs a couple more pictures. 

[John Morris]

So it appears both handles can pivot independently, perhaps a specialty iron for smaller linens, or ties, or?

[Ron Dudelston]

I think the body of the piece is threaded to accept the handles. 

[steven newman]

Could also be an iron to smooth veneers on legs.....

[Dadio]

Looks like you heat the slug of iron red hot and unscrew the one handle and screw it on the hot slug ,drop it in the tool and slide the lid closed and then.........................

 

Notice that the left side of the steel case is thicker for some reason.

Herb

[Dadio]

I might add that it might be the "eye" in the handle might be to stick a rod in to loosen the handle to unscrew it.

HErb

[HandyDan]

Salesman Sample / Miniature Hatters Iron   This rare little iron is marked M. S. Drake Newark NJ.  He held a few patents related to irons.  This exact iron is pictured in one Politzer's books and is the only one known.   Very nice!

 

 

https://www.antiqbuyer.com/All_Archives/IRONS_ARCHIVE/Great_arch2.htm

 

NOTE: The one on display may have two handles for left hand or right hand use by removing one handle or the other.

 

Edited December 2, 2018 by HandyDan

[Grandpadave52]

I think you're darn close Dan. This information makes a really strong argument.

[Ron Dudelston]

I agree, Dave.  The picture makes for a strong argument.

[Dadio]

@HandyDan

 

I think you got it,Dan, If you notice the bottom side is thicker then the top, just like the "What is it". So they must heat the chunk of iron and drop it into the tool then iron the hat. It may be that the only use for the one handle is to install and remove the hot iron chunk.,and it is only stored on the unit. Also I noticed the one you pictured ,the little door hinges up and out.

[Gene Howe]

Dan, I think you have it.