Saturday, August 28, 2010

Mystery Item

I have no idea what this is.  Perhaps one of my readers will know.   It was a gift to Far Guy from his cousin Bonnie. She believes that it was their Great Great Grandfather Xaver Aleck’s, he was a tailor in Philadelphia before he became a farmer in Harrison County, Iowa in 1860.  It may or may not have anything to do with being a tailor..

IMG_6966

I have put one of Chances new non slobbered up tennis balls next to the mystery item..so you can tell the size.

IMG_6963 Let the guessing begin..:)

20 comments:

DJan said...

It looks like it has a handle, but when I looked at the bottom, I'm mystified, too...

wendyytb said...

Could it be a lamp base?

Anonymous said...

I googled antique tailor instruments (photos) and browsed many pages but did not see anything like this. I sure am curious what it is. I'll keep checking back to see if someone knows.

Anonymous said...

It could be as simple as a lid to maybe a butter churn or something similar. Perhaps the seals back then required not more than what you see. Hmmm very interesting. Tammy

Unknown said...

I am stumped on this one too. I was going to guess some sort of leather stamper for brands or numbers but my guess is as good as everyone else's!

Country Gal said...

Have no idea ! the things that make ya go hmhmhm! I t will keep me guessing thats for sure !

Anonymous said...

Perhaps you could use it to stamp out cookie dough?

Anonymous said...

Dont know but it would work for a rubber jar ring toss game with I have seen similar too. Gw

Unknown said...

It's a hog scrapper. It was used during butchering. They would scrape the hair off the hog with those, after the hog was dead of course. Google it to learn more.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Really, a hog scrapper??? Ya think? I was gonna guess one of those big thread bobbin's , bein' he was a tailor and all. I loved the ring toss idea Miss Anonymous! :o)

Have a great weekend sweetie!!!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Way to go..great guessing!
Thank you Milah for educating us all, I learn something new everyday. I just knew that one of you would know!! :)

Anonymous said...

It is a hogscraper...used to scrape the hair of butchered pigs.

Lynda said...

I read this earlier when only a few comments were there. I was really hoping for a tailoring tool but it's amazing that someone knew. It was a fun game you posted though. When I saw the picture and before I read the text, I thought it might somehow involve the tennis ball.

Rita said...

A hog scraper! Wow! You learn something new every day!! :)

Far Guy said...

Anybody want to buy some Jewel weed soap?

Linda said...

I'm late to the party but I'd have never guessed a hog scraper.

Anonymous said...

I knew the minute I seen it. As a young girl we put them to good use. You need to dip the pig in hot water first then scrap. Use to love eating the pork rind on side pork. Now we just skin them. AZ

L. D. said...

I am going backwards on your blog but I am glad I didn't go through that era. My parents butcher a hog once while we were at school with the help of a neighbor. I suppose they were so poor that they couldn't pay the butcher in town. I think they found it to be way too much work.

Anonymous said...

I thought it might be a sink plunger for unblocking drainage problems, but a hog scraper's much more interesting! Jo

DayPhoto said...

I love your header! AND WITH A RAINBOW to boot!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com