Strange thing this.

[LQQKER]

I ound this years ago and came across it today. Its 2 1/2 inches long and unfolds. Only markings are
D.R.P. No. 50863. dIts nickel plated brass. Any ideas?

 

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[Evolx10]

http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/DRP, it could be many things.

first thing that came to my mind was some sort of inhaler thing drugs or whathaveyou. is the small round tube end open , i cant see in the pics.

 

[mojjax]

how about a BB gun speed-loader

 

[Monty]

Some kind of latch? Monty

 

[White Feather]

That's a penny. I think the pipe cleaner is missing a part.

 

[LQQKER]

The round end is open and thanks for the guess's.

 

[DD-777]

Looks like a lead holder (for extra lead) for a mechanical pencil...

 

[mojjax]

I wish somebody would ID this .

I had a dream last night that a creature with the body of a LLama - and the head of "strange thing this" was chasing me into the house .... When I got to the door , it was locked ! ....then I woke up !

 

[Montana Jim]

That thing is pretty familiar...




Anyways... D.R.P. might be (Deutsches Reichspatent (German Patent) no. 50863. That means it holds a german design patent from prior to May 1945.

 

[blackrat]

my dad had one of these in his tool box but never seen him use it for anything

 

[DD-777]

I still say lead holder for a mechanical pencil...

 

[trikikiwi]

I do enjoy researching these 'I know I've seen one before' whatsit's? Unfortunately I've wracked me brain without success on this one.

I still say lead holder for a mechanical pencil...

Good thinking but, I have to disagree mainly because of the big fat hinge in the internals. If it did hold leads you could easily break them against that. Also, any old or new lead holders with a dispenser tube I have seen, have all had an off-set dispensing tube.

Hey LQQKER, can you tell us the 'where, how and why' of your finding it, please

Mike

 

[Pangus]

Here's my guess...

The end nearest the round neck seems to taper outward, perhaps this is for mechanical advantage...the end is circular, and I think we are focusing on the cavity containing something of value...so...I think it is...


A cigar punch? maybe?

or something used to punch a single hole. the cavity inside appears too complicated to be to store anything of value. I think its to collect up waste, like the bottom of a three hole punch, to be emptied when it gets full.

 

[Breezie]

It's a Victorian (1860's) fire/burgler alarm. Ropes going to pulleys went through the hole, and when the rope was cut or burned, it would hit a bell to warn of the fire.
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=FD8AAAAAEBAJ
Breezie

 

[mcmich]

I am with DD-777, thats the first thing that came to my mind (lead holder) but breezie has a good lead too with the patent number. Not sure you can argue with that.

 

[taz42o]

[quote Not sure you can argue with that.
[/quote] I did . Thats a U.S. patent not a D.R.P

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,225758.0.html

 

[Breezie]

author=taz42o link=topic=202083.msg2233462#msg2233462 date=1269394109]

Not sure you can argue with that.

I did . Thats a U.S. patent not a D.R.P

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,225758.0.html

Taz, whether it is American or German patent was not my point; I was ID-ing the piece and using the patent pic to show it was indeed a Victorian fire/burgler alarm. Breezie

 

[taz42o]

author=taz42o link=topic=202083.msg2233462#msg2233462 date=1269394109]

Not sure you can argue with that.

I did . Thats a U.S. patent not a D.R.P

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,225758.0.html

Taz, whether it is American or German patent was not my point; I was ID-ing the piece and using the patent pic to show it was indeed a Victorian fire/burgler alarm. Breezie

I know breezie but Mcmich referred to the patent # being a match .

 

[aaaaaaa]

I don't think its connected with that patent.. The only thing on the patent I can see that looks like that are weights, and there's no need for a weight to be that complex (or light)..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

author=taz42o link=topic=202083.msg2233462#msg2233462 date=1269394109]

Not sure you can argue with that.

I did . Thats a U.S. patent not a D.R.P

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,225758.0.html

Taz, whether it is American or German patent was not my point; I was ID-ing the piece and using the patent pic to show it was indeed a Victorian fire/burgler alarm. Breezie

Im sorry but I need to argue as well. It says D.R.P. Deutsches Reichspatent (German Patent) no. 50863 on the item.. I dont know what the odds are but sorry Breezie, it would be a zillion to one chance that the German patent and the American patent numbers are identical for the same patent.