Radiator key?

[Kevo_DFX]

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster. I have been a member over at DFXONLY for a while now and thought I'd join this frum as well.

So...

What is it:

The consensus guess is some kind of radiator key, but a radiator for what?

It says "Houchin" on the front and "No 800" on the back. There is a gap between the thumb holds at the top, about .25 of an inch.

Here's the info I was able to find on Houchin:

"Houchin & Huber, 35-45 Fifty-third street, Brooklyn, N. Y. Machinery,
implements and labor-saving devices for the soap, oil, fat, candle,
spring bed and bedding industries; soap moulding and pressing dies;
box printing plates and machines for printing on wood; soap kettles,
tanks, crutchers, frames, cutters, slabbers; candle moulding machinery,
wick winders, saws and melting kettles; tallow, stéarine and oleo
presses; fat cutters and digestors; oleo plants, jacket kettles, mixers
for all purposes; grinding mills for soap, ink, chocolate and paint;
feather renovating and dressing machinery; mattress wire weaving
machines; disintegrators and grinders of friable substances"

Any help?

Thanks all...

Kevo

 

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[DCMatt]

Can you tell us where you found it?

My quick research on Houchin says it is a UK company that makes ground support equipment for the aviation industry and has been in business since before WWII.

More info would help...

DCMatt

 

[Kevo_DFX]

Sure:

I found it in Westmoreland County, PA in the non-descript front yard of a mobile-home. 8 inches down, ID'd as a penny at 4 inches.

Thanks,
Kevo

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Well I dont think its for a radiator...radiator keys fit over the square shaped valve stem to bleed them...not inserted like your key would do.....

 

[warsawdaddy]

Just looks like a small valve stem.Could be for a drain valve,air,water,almost any liquid with little or no pressure..The stem would go into the valve body and into the ball/disc.Or could be a tool to let pressure out of something like a tire valve.??

 

[dtwilson3]

I think Nick is right. Here are some pics of the whole lamplighter. http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/google.fcgi/itemKey=3923460112

dtw

 

[Kevo_DFX]

Wow, you guys are excellent. The key to turn the gas on for a lamp, around 100 years oldish?

Pretty cool. Thanks for the help!

 

[Angelo]

Totally agree with Nick!

Nice ID!!

And I'm giving you your Ranch back that you lost on another thread. Minus the horses and cattle. Only fair.

Tony

 

[Montana Jim]

Oustanding Nick!

 

[bradyboy]

gas key?

 

[DCMatt]

Nick! Impressive!

DCMatt

 

[PBK]

Awesome as premium Assam, and then some, Nick!