What and how old

[chicepo]

Myself and Southwillrise went to a wooded area next to and old plantation and rice fields. We have found many hoe heads and buttons in the past. We dug a tool that we can not ID. It is aprox 8" long, has hook or narl on the end and and open spot that looks like a wooden hoe handle would go into. Can anyone ID for us?

We also found a small pewter deer head about 6" deep. It looks like it has broken off of something. It also has a repair with silver solder. Under the chin it looks like it was put together with two parts you can see the seam. Anyone know what it is or used for?

 

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[chicepo]

The hole is oblong not round and is tappered as if to hold a handle. The inside edge is flat and the outside egde is rounded. It dose not look to me to be a sharpened edge, but not a bad thought. I am trying to come up with what it would be used for if it was a sharp edge.

 

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[deepskyal]

My guess is that it isn't a tool at all, but rather an early fireplace crane hook. It would slip over the crane in a fireplace with the hook pointed upwards on which a cast iron pot was hung.

My first guess too when I saw it. Vaguely remember seeing something very similar where the pot was hung off the hook and the whole hook section swung in or out of the fire for serving.
Yes, it would require a heavy piece inserted into it, much like a garden impliment, when you consider how heavy cast iron is and then add contents to it. Lots of weight there.

Al

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It does not look to me to be a sharpened edge, but not a bad thought. I am trying to come up with what it would be used for if it was a sharp edge.

I dont know... for scraping... something like a bark scraper...the "hook" piece would be the handle. Im just guessing...throwing ideas around.

If its not sharp, then I dont think it could be to cut hay or weeds..

 

[cheese]

Looks like what they used to make "cat faces" on turpentine harvesting trees back in the old days. I have one here and a piece of wood that has been "cat faced" and still has nails from the catch tin to drain the turpentine into the crocks.

 

[seekeroforo]

I have it!

It is a belt mounted beer holder.

The long arm with the prong goes in between your pants and belt facing your body, your beer goes into the large hole. The prong is there to "poke" your leg to remind you that you have a cold brew waiting for attention!



In all seriousness, I hope you get an answer soon. This may have been a proprietary tool (care to offer a patent? )

The night is getting to me, I better stop....now

~seeker~

 

[chicepo]

Is it posible to get a picture of the tool that makes "cat faces" I know what you mean, we used to tap maple trees up in Vermont and use a small tap but I can see that is might work on a pine tree.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is it posible to get a picture of the tool that makes "cat faces" I know what you mean, we used to tap maple trees up in Vermont and use a small tap but I can see that is might work on a pine tree.

I searched turpentine tools but couldnt find a match.

 

[Bramblefind]

Pic is called Scraping a Tree to Make Turpentine-

http://www.floridamemory.com/onlineclassroom/zora_hurston/photos_2.cfm

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Could this have been sharp at one time? It looks thin and worn.

 

[daroofa]

Definitely looks similar to this...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Definitely looks similar to this...

Well Ill be.... ..that explains the handle.

 

[traderoftreasures]

 

[chicepo]

Well I think that DAROOFA has it on the nose. Just a different type of design, but I am sure from where I found it and the time frame it is a turpentine tool. Thanks for all the good research.

Get-er-Dug

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I see the green check. Im kinda surprised this is really what it is. I wonder what the value? North Carolina was the tarheel state in the 1850's. http://www.auburn.edu/academic/forestry_wildlife/longleafalliance/teachers/teacherkit/turpentine.htm.

 

[cheese]

Like I mentioned, I have one here hanging on the front of my shop with a lot of other tools. They have one at our local museum too. Turpentine making used to be really common in these parts.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Like I mentioned, I have one here hanging on the front of my shop with a lot of other tools. They have one at our local museum too.

We had this whole thing backwards for the first 19 posts and some were deleted. We eventually got back on track. This was a good example of a TN combined effort.

Can you post a picture of the one hanging in front of your shop? I didnt realize you had a match. Would be cool to see it. Thanks.

Turpentine making used to be really common in these parts.

Yep, around 1850, the production of gum turpentine peaked in North Carolina and began to spread southward through the longleaf pine belt as northerly forest were exhausted.

 

[KoryLGriffin]

Definitely looks similar to this...

Clever. Good thing you're on our side...