✅ SOLVED Found these in a spill with 1870s coins.

[VTSwinger]

 

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[Blackfoot58]

Th first object appears to have a glass or mirror. It appears to fold. I wonder about a predecessor to a lensatic compass. Does it unfold to reveal any markings of graduation?

 

[VTSwinger]

Th first object appears to have a glass or mirror. It appears to fold. I wonder about a predecessor to a lensatic compass. Does it unfold to reveal any markings of graduation?

I can't open it. I'm afraid id break it if I were to pry it open. Thanks for the compass idea!

 

[Blackfoot58]

I can't open it. I'm afraid id break it if I were to pry it open. Thanks for the compass idea!

I understand that. Don’t jeopardize it. Sometimes rust wins the race. Nice find!

 

[Retired Sarge]

Vintage folding magnifier/jewelers loop.

Second item maybe a filigree button or bead......?

 

[Tony in SC]

I think Sarge has it.

 

[VTSwinger]

Vintage folding magnifier/jewelers loop.

Second item maybe a filigree button or bead......?

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That is totally it! Thank you. Also thanks for verbage on the button/bead as well!

 

[Retired Sarge]

That is totally it! Thank you. Also thanks for verbage on the button/bead as well!

Not a problem, glad I could help a bit. The loop I'm positive on and the other I'm not sure on the purpose.

Every once and a while I can get an ID correct.....LOL!

 

[Red-Coat]

Vintage or antique folding magnifier it is, but not a jeweller's loupe. Magnifiers like your were originally designed for close examination of a flat surface in a defined field of view... most usually for determination of the quality of woven cloth and, for that reason, are generally known as "linen testers". Also used by printers to check registration of colours, alignment and detail.

 

[VTSwinger]

Vintage or antique folding magnifier it is, but not a jeweller's loupe. Magnifiers like your were originally designed for close examination of a flat surface in a defined field of view... most usually for determination of the quality of woven cloth and, for that reason, are generally known as "linen testers". Also used by printers to check registration of colours, alignment and detail.

Wow, thanks for the added description. I found it with a ring of keys associated with a hotel from that time period (1870s) and have assumed an employee from the hotel dropped them. Would it be too powerful of a magnification for reading say a hotel guestbook?

 

[Red-Coat]

Would it be too powerful of a magnification for reading say a hotel guestbook?

Unlikely, I would have thought, not least because of the small field of view. Typically, when assessing the quality of cloth, the number of threads (warp and weft) in the area defined by the rectangular base frame were counted. Some have graduations marked on the frame.

It might have been useful in checking for counterfeit paper money. In later times they've been widely used by banknote collectors and stamp collectors... but I guess you can use them for examining anything you like as long as it's flat and you don't need a large field of view.

 

[VTSwinger]

Vintage or antique folding magnifier it is, but not a jeweller's loupe. Magnifiers like your were originally designed for close examination of a flat surface in a defined field of view... most usually for determination of the quality of woven cloth and, for that reason, are generally known as "linen testers". Also used by printers to check registration of colours, alignment and detail.

Unlikely, I would have thought, not least because of the small field of view. Typically, when assessing the quality of cloth, the number of threads (warp and weft) in the area defined by the rectangular base frame were counted. Some have graduations marked on the frame.

It might have been useful in checking for counterfeit paper money. In later times they've been widely used by banknote collectors and stamp collectors... but I guess you can use them for examining anything you like as long as it's flat and you don't need a large field of view.

For the sake of the story I've constructed in my head, I'm going with the counterfeit money bit. Thanks again for all the info.

 

[devldog]

Great I.D. Well Done.

Vintage folding magnifier/jewelers loop.

Second item maybe a filigree button or bead......?

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[1637]

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that is so cool