🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Not a clue what this is.....

[Rhody28]

Found mixed in with a box of my grandmother's stuff (she was born in 1888). It is iron (magnet test). It measures roughly 17" long and weighs 11.6 oz. There are two sets of "tines". The top one is two tines and the bottom is three. When squeezed, the tines bypass each other but only slightly. There is a stop on the top rod which keeps the tines from bypassing each other. The tines are affixed to the rods with indentations, which appear to have been made with a punch. There are no markings whatsoever. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[HuntinDog]

It could be a pleater.
or to cook something like bacon, but I would think the handle would get too hot to hold.

 

[pepperj]

If you were to press it together does the moving part pass through?
Thinking like a clip to hang something.
The back pressure would hold the item, then the loop over a peg/nail.

 

[Rhody28]

It could be a pleater.
or to cook something like bacon, but I would think the handle would get too hot to hold.

Thanks for the reply. I thought it was a pleater of some sort but I searched endlessly through pleaters and there's nothing remotely close. And I looked through cooking utensils and struck out there too. But thanks for looking!

 

[Rhody28]

If you were to press it together does the moving part pass through?
Thinking like a clip to hang something.
The back pressure would hold the item, then the loop over a peg/nail.

It does pass through but not even enough to see between the top and bottom.

 

[ticndig]

it's your granny's hair crimper, curler

 

[CreakyDigger]

ticndig called it right. That is an old-fashioned hair curling iron.

 

[Rhody28]

it's your granny's hair crimper, curler View attachment 2001939

No doubt! Thanks for your help. TreasureNet's the best!

 

[ticndig]

you're right Treasurenet is the best , I see you're a long time member, we hope you'll stop in more often .

 

[Gare]

Antique Metal Crimping Curling Iron - Etsy

Antique metal crimping iron. It has normal patina for its age and use. The handles are metal. It measures 10.25 inches long. Item is being sold AS IS, please ask any questions before buying. Item will be shipped with 5 business days upon receiving payment.

www.etsy.com

 

[Brokenbear]

Looks too heavy duty to be a hair iron ..

I'm guessing the tool was built to handle broom straw ..to gather a bunch from stacker tubes (to align the individual pieces of straw) ..then the bundle would have been shook flat on a wire rack ..then grasped by these tongs ..straw group cut to length then held in the crimper (with handle in place) or wire binder (depending on the type of binding process) then still in the tongs registered in the sewing machine stitching across the width 4 inches below the wire/sleeve binding ..now you have grandma's broom

Now the fine print: ..my grandpa owned a broom factory 75 years ago ..not sure when it closed but I was very young when it did ..but your tool did not appear foreign and I think that is were I saw it ..maybe

Bear

 

[crashbandicoot]

Looks too heavy duty to be a hair iron ..

I'm guessing the tool was built to handle broom straw ..to gather a bunch from stacker tubes (to align the individual pieces of straw) ..then the bundle would have been shook flat on a wire rack ..then grasped by these tongs ..straw group cut to length then held in the crimper (with handle in place) or wire binder (depending on the type of binding process) then still in the tongs registered in the sewing machine stitching across the width 4 inches below the wire/sleeve binding ..now you have grandma's broom

Now the fine print: ..my grandpa owned a broom factory 75 years ago ..not sure when it closed but I was very young when it did ..but your tool did appear foreign and I think that is were I saw it ..maybe

Bear

Good one Brokenbear! Makes sense if you,ve ever looked at a straw broom.

 

[ticndig]

Looks too heavy duty to be a hair iron ..

I'm guessing the tool was built to handle broom straw ..to gather a bunch from stacker tubes (to align the individual pieces of straw) ..then the bundle would have been shook flat on a wire rack ..then grasped by these tongs ..straw group cut to length then held in the crimper (with handle in place) or wire binder (depending on the type of binding process) then still in the tongs registered in the sewing machine stitching across the width 4 inches below the wire/sleeve binding ..now you have grandma's broom

Now the fine print: ..my grandpa owned a broom factory 75 years ago ..not sure when it closed but I was very young when it did ..but your tool did not appear foreign and I think that is were I saw it ..maybe

Bear

can you post some pics of this broom making tool ?