Appears to be Commonplace - SOLVED

[taropatch]

Two unrelated items that don't appear very old. Maybe you can identify them.

The tinpot found in a forest while hiking 9 years ago. It measures about a foot deep and 4" X 4" inside. After suggesting that this was a cattle feed carrier or water lugger, an old Midwestern farmer just shook his head and told me he's never seen such a thing before.

The second item appears to be an assembly that is part of an electrical pole. It is about 10" X 10" and the little glass things are about 3 inches in diameter. Wording on one of the metal sides reads "CASE R. H."

 

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[rmptr]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

I haven't any more than a guess...

How about a military cooking utensil... but the size doesn't seem right.

and, an electrical wire spreader device... maybe for an electric fence?

Where is the forest?
Any known history?

HH
rmptr

 

[Ken from Atlanta]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

the second one is a set of insulators and a spreader for railroad signal wires. It would have been hung between the poles, using the wires tension to keep it in place. They were used to keep wires from being able to touch and short out in high wind areas. Probably made by Owens Corning glass works, (not definitely, but most likely) and would date to the 1970's-80's.
I collected insulators when I was younger, and I never found one of those intact on the ground, the only one I have I had to put together out of parts. It's a really nice find intact, but not worth more than about 15-20$ on a good day.

look at the glass for any makers marks, and I will be able to tell you who made them.

 

[idahotokens]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

I believe the second item is called a "transition" and was used on open-wire telephone lines to put a twist in a pair of wires to reduce induction. The way you have it pictured is upside-down - the wider part of the insulators should be on the bottom. Normally the wires going down an above-ground telephone line are parallel, held apart and in place by the insulators on the crossarm of the pole or by the insulators on wooden pegs in the side of the pole. This device is placed midway between poles with the two wires coming in one side, crossing in the middle (where they are held apart so they don't touch) and out the other side. Having this twist helps reduce crosstalk induced from adjacent pairs.
John in ID

 

[Rmeav8r]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

I think you have part of a mermite, a U.S. Army insulated meal container. Here is a link to one one on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mermite-U-S-Arm...ryZ36077QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Rmeav8r]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

A better photo of the same. I knew what it was as soon as I saw it, .......26 years active duty Army. Retired last spring.

Joe

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

Good job DFXScout!

Industrial size SPAM can.

 

[Rmeav8r]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

Good job DFXScout!

Industrial size SPAM can.

God only knows how much SOS and Chili Mac this thing has seen! The good part is that these usually meant HOT food insted of C rations or MRE's.

 

[deepskyal]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

Oh, come on...spam is soooo much better than army food in the trenches.
Al

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

A better photo of the same. I knew what it was as soon as I saw it, .......26 years active duty Army. Retired last spring.

Joe

Joe - I spent a lot of time eatin gout of those too... LOL... 24 years AF Cop... retired two months ago. I also knew what it was right away... I hope I never see one again!

Jim

 

[taropatch]

Re: Appears to be Commonplace

Holy smokes! You guys are good -- thanks so much!

 

[shanegalang]

I knew right hen I saw it.....U.S Army Infantry in the early 80s, I always LOVED to see the mermite cans out in the field! Beat the ehck out of MREs!!!

 

[Shortstack]

Good job DFXScout!

Industrial size SPAM can.

God only knows how much SOS and Chili Mac this thing has seen! The good part is that these usually meant HOT food insted of C rations or MRE's.

I wonder how the Mess Sgt. explained that missing insert when he pulled inventory at the end of the "little cookout".