Unknown Antique Copper Item

[charlieslou]

I found this antique copper item and don't know what it is. There aren't any maker's marks on it, The only name is L.T. Taylor stamped in the 'spout' portion of the top. The craftsmanship on it is wonderful. On either side of the container are three brackets which seem to be for some sort of strap. The 'spout' has a wide screen on the bottom and a finer screen on top of that. Might be used to strain or separate. Hope to hear what it is. Thanks!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[Clay Lindsey]

My guess is that it is a canteen, judging from the strap loops along the side. The filtered top appears to provide a suitable way to filter out debris from a water source. Did you polish it or buff it? Were there any scorch marks on the bottom, say from a candle?

Additionally, is there a 'period' after the "L"? I'm trying to determine if it is LT. or L.T. If it is "LT.", you are looking for one of the many thousands of possible Lieutenant Taylors from its time period.

Clay

 

[charlieslou]

[/B I thought about it being a canteen, too. I sent photos to 3 Civil War Era websites. All three came back with answers that they had never seen anything like it. I did no clean it and there aren't any scorch marks. The inside is clean, too.

 

[Paleopilot]

Why is this item posted twice?

 

[charlieslou]

Additionally, is there a 'period' after the "L"? I'm trying to determine if it is LT. or L.T. If it is "LT.", you are looking for one of the many thousands of possible Lieutenant Taylors from its time period.

Clay

Yes, there is a period after both the L&T.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

[/B I thought about it being a canteen, too. I sent photos to 3 Civil War Era websites. All three came back with answers that they had never seen anything like it. I did no clean it and there aren't any scorch marks. The inside is clean, too.

I never seen a canteen like it either. It looks more like a milk container. Very nice hand soldered example.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

....

 

[charlieslou]

I never seen a canteen like it either. It looks more like a milk container. Very nice hand soldered example.

Yes, it's beautiful!!! Has the same basic shape as your milk can.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

This is more a guess - when dairy cows (goats, sheep) are nursing the farmer keeps the first pulls off the teets to give to the young as that contains colostrum that the calf (kid, lamb) needs to grow healthy. It also is seperated from most "dairy products". That might be what the milker wore - like a canteen - to capture the colostrum that comes out ahead of the milk.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

ahh thats too bad, i was hoping it would have been from the moonshine days I can only imagine though!! Kewl find!

 

[DJWEHAGE]

What ever it is, it is definately a cool find!

 

[charlieslou]

This is more a guess - when dairy cows (goats, sheep) are nursing the farmer keeps the first pulls off the teets to give to the young as that contains colostrum that the calf (kid, lamb) needs to grow healthy. It also is seperated from most "dairy products". That might be what the milker wore - like a canteen - to capture the colostrum that comes out ahead of the milk.

Soundslike a GREAT guess to me. Thanks to everybody for their suggestions! If I find out exactly what it is I will post the answer.

 

[Tony in SC]

This is more a guess - when dairy cows (goats, sheep) are nursing the farmer keeps the first pulls off the teets to give to the young as that contains colostrum that the calf (kid, lamb) needs to grow healthy. It also is seperated from most "dairy products". That might be what the milker wore - like a canteen - to capture the colostrum that comes out ahead of the milk.

You are on the right track, Charlie. In the early 1900's, Taylor sold dairy equiptment, and later crude milking machines. I'll check in some of my books tomorrow. Tony

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

If you google antique copper milk jug you will see pictures in images.

 

[clovis97]

It could also be a milk/cream separator.

 

[Sentrom]

There is a company called W.S. Tyler screening Company. I wonder if L.T. Taylor was an original name for that company. It looks to me like a mesh/scale for determining the particle size distribution of a granular material. W.S. Tyler Screening Company is well known in the manufacture of mesh screen/scale items.

 

[wainzoid]

I saw one of these sell at auction tonight. The auctioneer called it a minnow bucket. It was with an estate that had alot of vintage fishing lures and rods. It sold for $80--

 

[yaxthri]

I saw one of these sell at auction tonight. The auctioneer called it a minnow bucket. It was with an estate that had alot of vintage fishing lures and rods. It sold for $80--

Hey this finally sounds like a plausible ID to me... Should I say "well done" or is it premature?...

 

[CoilyGirl]

Very nice find.

 

[DCMatt]

Hey this finally sounds like a plausible ID to me... Should I say "well done" or is it premature?...

Agree. Live bait minnow bucket.

DCMatt