Museum owner cannot identify

[MrsFury]

Hi all. I visited a museum today and the owner has an item he cannot identify. I told him I'd post here in the hopes that y'all could help. Here are three pics I took of this item. It was found in an area between two lakes where the towns were wiped out in a hurricane in 1915. Thank you in advance for any replies.

 

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[River Rat]

Not to take away MrsFury's post, but if time permits I will swing by the museum tomorrow and get a closer look at this mystery item. Looks like ceramic glaze, I'm thinking of something used in a dairy process...creamer separator or somewhat related. Judging where it was found, is questionable...pure swamp. Knowing PBK he'll have the answer tomorrow.

RR

 

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[River Rat]

Ok, I bumping this back up...come on guys, help us out.

RR

 

[dg39]

One single pottery container.
Two faucets'
both drain same container.
Probably sat in a metal rack.
It is a dispenser of some type.
Past that point, what was it dispensing ?
DG

 

[tulecanyon]

Past that point, what was it dispensing ?
DG

what ever it was dispensing, it was caustic to brass. leaves beer out...

 

[rustyfind]

Looks like some sort of early seperatory funnel.

 

[bradyboy]

looks like it could be glass lined?
Please confirm

 

[MrsFury]

looks like it could be glass lined?
Please confirm

I'll be out that way tomorrow morning. If it's open I can stop in. If not we will have to rely on River Rat!

 

[Blacksheep]

Noted a few interesting patents from the `30s on back using google patent search.
http://www.google.com/patents

I used "stoneware, two valves, water" for keywords, some of the searches showed
patents for chemical use/separation/collection etc that indicated vessels made of
stoneware with piping/valves.

Figure 3 here is what caught my eye..(page 2, number 45 )
http://www.google.com/patents?id=Xw...+two+valves&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1

Is or was there a chemical company nearby?
I could be way off but its a thought.

 

[River Rat]

Is or was there a chemical company nearby?
I could be way off but its a thought.

Yep, quite a few along the MS River, from the general location this was found, the chemical plants would be within 25 miles or less.

 

[texan connection]

Those Valves wouldent holb back much pressure ( afew psi's maybe) and thier size indicates somthing thick

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Those Valves wouldent holb back much pressure ( afew psi's maybe) and thier size indicates somthing thick

I agree and both valves go to the same place.
The wide open top would suggest cleaning is needed.

 

[bradyboy]

one valve is for intake
second is for exhaust -output

 

[bradyboy]

there maybe stems missing from the inside
One valve had a stem that was short to collect steam or what ever
the other valve supplied the tank with fluid
Thinking its a type of still
BradyBoy

 

[eggbag]

old school gravity fed flushable toilet tank with other spigot to feed sink?

 

[mickk]

I have seen very similar water filters.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think its food related because of the large opening on top. The only reason I can think of would be to for cleaning. Unless it is an opening to remove a filter.

Could be for chemicals.

A HWH would not need such a large opening.

 

[bradyboy]

no
it seems to me that its heat related
fluid goes in one valve and the captured steam is pushed out the other valve
I'm thinking there was a heating element located at the base
still asking if its glassed lined
Who knows, could be a type of still, grape ferminter
Brady

 

[EggyOG]

What would happen if you fed gas (l.p. or natural) into one valve and oxygen into the other? Could it be some type of flame jet for a boiler or something?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

no
it seems to me that its heat related
fluid goes in one valve and the captured steam is pushed out the other valve
I'm thinking there was a heating element located at the base...

What would happen if you fed gas (l.p. or natural) into one valve and oxygen into the other? Could it be some type of flame jet for a boiler or something?

Brady

It seems to me for both of these ideas it would need to be airtight and sealed with no openings.
It seems to me that steam would pop the top off (if it had one). Also the slip-on hose fittings can hold no pressure.

 

[MrsFury]

old school gravity fed flushable toilet tank with other spigot to feed sink?

Considering where it was found and the types of stuff displayed in the museum, I'd say that is a good guess. Dem ol cajuns could have made a toilet tank out of anything. The guesses regarding some sort of water heater make sense too because I'm sure they did a lot of boiling of crawfish, shrimp and the laundry!

This is the museum: http://www.louisianatreasuresmuseum.com/

Thanks all!