The Case of the Mystery Heirloom

My friend Rachel (who runs a great Sewing and Crafting on Wednesday group) has a mystery device that we are hoping to identify. The mystery object is made out of brass and belonged to Rachel’s grandmother. It has an arm with three joints and a collapsible tripod stand. When fully collapsed it makes a flat 3″ x 4″ square.

As mentioned before this is an heirloom piece, but Rachel has never been able to figure out what it was originally intended for, as a matter of fact I’m only making the assumption that the three pieces on the bottom are even intended as a stand. For all I know the pointed end could plug into something.

Please note, I have updated this entry with more information based on reader comments. You can check them out below the next set of photos. If anyone knows what this is, or has ever seen anything like it please comment below or email at Doc AT DoctorPopular DOT Com.



Upated 10/19/07: To address a few questions and comments that have appeared in the comments below, here are some more details of the mystery heirloom piece. The piece appears to be stamped brass from sheet metal and there doesn’t appear to be any info stamped on it at all (ie patent number/country of manufacturing/company name). The tip on the end of the arm is not a clamp.

I do believe the hole in the center of the piece would have been used to hold some sort of object while the device was fully closed. If we knew exactly what the piece in the center was, we’d know what the heirloom was.

Previously I had believed the center piece held some sort magnifying lens that could be removed and place on the pointed end (as many of readers have also suspected), but I like Ben Yellin’s comment about this being a moveable/foldable candlestick holder. He says he has some and will snap some shots of them along with the instruction manual they came with. I look forward to seeing the candlestick holder on his and seeing if it fits into a hole similar to the one on this piece.

Upated 10/19/07 (evening): I believe this case is SOLVED!

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69 responses to “The Case of the Mystery Heirloom”

  1. WaltTrombone Avatar
    WaltTrombone

    Is the pointy end kind of like a tweezer? It might be a vise for tying flies (for fly-fishing.)

  2. Steve Barbour Avatar
    Steve Barbour

    Maybe some sort of folding knitting sheath?

  3. Ferry Avatar
    Ferry

    Perhaps you put a candle on the spike and use the arm to position it?

  4. db Avatar
    db

    I’m pretty confident that the pointy end sticks into something. The notches in the holes on the ‘stand’ don’t seem to fit any aesthetic purpose, so I assume they are there for some functional role. But for what, I haven’t a clue.

  5. atomico Avatar
    atomico

    Could be useful as a crude measurement instrument. You can move the pointy end for example until it touches a stack of sheets. Then remove the sheets and later create another stack that is approximately the same height by piling shhets until they touch the point.

  6. Jenny Avatar
    Jenny

    Given its provenance (grandmother, not lumberjack) and the fact that it is gracefully shaped, my thought is that it does have something to do with needlework or spinning. The notches on the bottom could be used to guide a cord of some kind, and the metal spike looks blunt enough to be used to tease out knots or mats in roving or tangled fiber of some sort. I would be interested to see what a needlework group (sprinkled with some older members) has to say about it.

  7. TV's Chris G Avatar
    TV’s Chris G

    Mmmmm… not sure.
    But I do know that you can’t close a machine.

  8. geoffrey Avatar
    geoffrey

    might be a fly wheel remover for early motorcycles.

  9. pasta Avatar
    pasta

    Is it a device for fastening one’s own jewelry with one hand, as for a bracelet?

  10. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I too think you have it upside down. I think the spike would fit into something else – say, a hole in the arm of a chair or table. Perhaps different lenses or filter fit into the holes at the other end of the arm.

  11. Tomas Foolery Avatar
    Tomas Foolery

    I could have sworn that my Aunt, a seamstress had one of these to help her with certain types of stitches. She’d WEAR it like a ring or have it on the table in front of her.

    I could be wrong. But I’ve seen this before. I will see if I can ask my family.

  12. robn Avatar
    robn

    My WAG is that its a nautical mapping device. Since it flat packs, its probably for the space contrained (like on a a boat). It’s a tripod to make it stable on an unstable surface (like on a boat). The end doesn’t appear to have pincers, but is a pointer…and thats something you rarely see in instruments other than drawing or measuring instruments. I guess it may have been used to temporarily lock a point on a map withotu piercing the map with a pin…, so that other instruments could be used (like pantograph or rolling ruler) to chart courses from the locked point.
    Can’t explain the obviously utilitarian notch in the roundy hole..???hmmm?
    For your consideration….I’d try trolling nautical memorabilia site and e-bay to find a match.

  13. ik Avatar
    ik

    I’d agree with db about the pointy bit sticking into something.
    Is it possibly some kind of thread tensioning/feeding attachment for a vintage sowing maching. The large holes big enough to pass a bobbin of thread through and the small notches are where the thread actually runs?

  14. Broing Broing.net » Blog Archive » What is this heirloom mystery object?

    […] Link […]

  15. jimh Avatar
    jimh

    Okay, here is my best guess!

    I would say that this is a free-standing compact magnifying glass for use with needlepoint or embroidery work. I think the circle in the middle was once the storage place for a round lens in a brass fitting, which had a connection (the notch in the circle) that slid on to the pointed end of the arm. The lens is missing, and so is the nice case that I imagine this once traveled in.

  16. m Avatar
    m

    Could it be a holder for a monocle. Some kind of lorgnette/monocle combination.

  17. Nobody`s Listening » Blog Archive » What is this thing?

    […] Link [via BoingBoing]     Read More    Post a Comment […]

  18. jerry Avatar
    jerry

    It’s obvious. My grandfather was a musician and he had one of these. It’s for recording your drum solo onto a wax phonograph master. You stand it on your drums, wind up your phonograph and start playing …

    Rock on!

  19. Tom Turner Avatar
    Tom Turner

    Easy as pie. Seamstress means clothes making craftswoman

    This is a hem marker. The end holds a small piece of waxy white pencil or chalk. For fussy fabric, it just pointed to where a pin should go as a marker.

    Notice that it can be adjusted from near the floor for pants or long skirts, Up to mid thigh.

    Bodies are not symetric nor easy to measure. It is much easier to
    measure from the floor up than from the waist down.

  20. Axxchor Avatar
    Axxchor

    I say it’s an accessory for sewing/kitting. A mobile stand for use with either a sewing machine, or sewing by hand. Perhaps it would be called a “spool holder” or a “cone holder”. Something in the spirit of these devices:

    http://www.sewfancy.com/notions/gn-250.jpg
    http://www.sewfancy.com/notions/ga-032.jpg

  21. Zach Avatar
    Zach

    It is a holder for books. If you want to keep a cook book open to a certain page, the point will hold the page while the book is leaning up agains the base.

  22. george Avatar
    george

    Axxchor, good idea about the point being for a spool, but I think if that were the case, then there’d be no reason for all the articulation–the extra joints. Base plus a spike should do it. Oh, and heavy, too.

    I think this is definitely part of a larger item. Perhaps the hole with the key is used to store this piece on a post or peg without it moving around.

  23. John Lupien Avatar
    John Lupien

    This device is a height transfer gauge.
    Used in machining and woodworking,
    usually to copy the height of a feature
    from a pattern object onto a workpiece.

    Procedure:
    Set the pattern object on a flat surface.
    Set up the gauge so that the point can reach
    the feature of interest on the pattern. Set the
    pointer at the height of the feature and tighten
    the joint knurls to hold the height. Replace the
    pattern object with the workpiece, and mark the
    workpiece at the height of the point. Such points
    are often made of hardened steel so that they can
    score the workpiece directly.

  24. hedgecore Avatar
    hedgecore

    I would think the spike would fit into a hole on a sewing table and that the notches would be used for guiding 1, 2, or 3 different colours of thread / yarn.

  25. kdub Avatar
    kdub

    If you think it might be an antique sewing thingamabobby, you might want to contact these folks, who run an antique sewing machine website: http://www.dincum.com/index.html

  26. Ben Yellin Avatar
    Ben Yellin

    Ferry’s right, it’s a replica of a 19th-century Japanese Traveling Candlestick. My grandfather produced a set of these back in the 50s. Inside the circle on the base was a little dish that you place on the spike to catch the wax. I’ll take pictures of a complete candlestick and the pamphlet distributed with it once my camera recharges.

  27. steve Avatar
    steve

    I like the idea of this being some kind of magnifier…perhaps the pointy bit fit into an embroidery frame somehow. the three vanes are relatively eye-shaped, and if lenses fit into the openings, they could be used singly or in combination for different magnifications.
    the discussion on boing boing brought up an interesting point: is there a patent number inscribed anywhere on this thing? if so, you could look it up in a second.

  28. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    This resembles a Jeweler’s “third hand” Really handy for holding parts in place while soldering! http://search.ebay.com/third-hand_W0QQsalicZQ2d15QQsatitleZthird-hand

  29. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    This object is designed to restrain a ball of wool or yarn from travelling off a table while knitting or crochetting.
    the pointed end is postioned in the centre of the ball to allow it to spin or rotate as the wool plays out. It is adjustable to allow for the varying diameters of balls of yarn.

  30. Felonious Punk Avatar
    Felonious Punk

    I have several of these. It’s a Newtonian Left-Handed Brass Wobulator.
    My Grandfather used his for sorting Snipe.
    Now days about all they are good for is winding the occasional sun dial.
    Cin-Cin!

  31. Vern Wall Avatar
    Vern Wall

    I don’t know what it is, but I have often wished I had one. When building models I wish I had an extra finger to hold something down while I apply glue or tie it or whatever. This would be a perfect instrument for that.

  32. cath Avatar
    cath

    Its a cupholder for picnics, the pointy end sticks in the ground.

  33. Jack Avatar
    Jack

    Perhaps it’s several tools in one.

  34. maddy Avatar
    maddy

    Looks like something between a drawing compass and handcuffs…

  35. hoola-boola Avatar
    hoola-boola

    It’s a stop motion surface gauge. It’s used to help animators as a point of reference when they are animation their puppets.

  36. GV Avatar
    GV

    It seems to complex and articulating for a candle holder if the candle is just for light, but perhaps the candle is used for dripping wax onto something else and this allows the candle to be positioned directly over the piece to be waxed?

  37. Balls Avatar
    Balls

    First of all. Take a proper photograph of this “mystery object”.
    Put it into perspective. We have no clue how big it is, the hole for it could be as big as a soccer ball or as tiny as a dime… who knows. Try taking some photos with a reference object beside it ie. a pen or pencil.. even a ruler or a dollar bill

  38. Gary Avatar
    Gary

    What this appears to be, if the stamped plates can be used to hold an item or three it something called a ‘Camera Lucida’.

    An apparatus for drawing exact perspectives of a scene. It would be used thus. The spike end would be affixed to the side of your drawing board, while the three disk shaped holes would hold in turn a converging lens, half silvered mirror and either another mirror or a diverging lens.

    By way of reflection and refraction, you would adjust the mirrors and lenses to place the image of the scene and your drawing of it in the same field of the eye you use. Thus you can just draw round what you see.

    There are many ways to organise the optics such a device, one way is outlined in this wikipedia article.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_lucida

    Hope this helps, pity so much of it is missing.

  39. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    Hi, this is Rachel, the owner of the object. Y’all have come up with a ton of ideas… I’m impressed with the creativity but for most of these ideas, sure it COULD do that, but it wouldn’t be very good at it and why make something that would work badly, when a better design is in each case so obvious?

    jimh’s idea about it being a magnifying lens holder missing the lens assembly strikes me as possible, though.

    There is, unfortunately, no printing on it such as might be a patent number, or in fact of any sort at all.

    Ben Yellin, I’d love to see your Japanese Travelling Candlestick photos! I doubt it’s a candlestick though, as a) why bendy? b) why no drip catcher? c) why the hole in the stand, & the notch? But I’ll believe if the photos match (I am also slightly suspicious that your JTC is actually a Wobulator too).

    🙂
    Rachel

  40. greg sanders Avatar
    greg sanders

    i believe taht this item is for holding spools if thread, and that this device looks like it does so that it is portible, the pointy end goes through a spool of thread and the thread can then turn freely.

  41. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Here’s flickr set of what I have: http://www.flickr.com/gp/45421277@N00/86BrcH

  42. blane Avatar
    blane

    collapsible lawn dart

  43. DocPop » Blog Archive » Case closed!

    […] Thanks to a  comment from the wonderfully astute Ben Kellin, the Case of the Mystery Heirloom is solved! […]

  44. Super Jamie Avatar
    Super Jamie

    I think that Flickr set is pretty indisputable proof that it is indeed a traveling candlestick.

    Full marks to Ferry, and to Ben Yellin for backing it up with photos

  45. Cort Avatar
    Cort

    It is a collapsible holder for a miner’s lamp.
    But by all means keep guessing.

  46. Wayne Avatar
    Wayne

    It’s too bad you don’t have the missing piece, the one that fits in the hole when the thing is collapsed. That explains the aligned holes better than anything else I can imagine. It could have been a magnifying glass, I suppose. The pointy bit is similar to a Morse taper, found in machinery, used as an attaching device. A matching ring or sleeve would fit snugly over it. Maybe a cartographers tool?

    It is a beautiful thing, made at a time when over-engineering and stunning aesthetics where the word of the day. A time when complex inventions where handcrafted with great care. I am a woodworker and have seen many examples of reinvented everyday tools that would cost a fortune to replicate today.

    Great mind bender, and beautiful.

  47. Pbrain Avatar
    Pbrain

    Its an egg timer

  48. Kristin Avatar
    Kristin

    Well, I hate to say it, but grandma had a hidden life. Definitely part of an old tattoo machine. Bet you had no idea Grandma was more bad-ass then you.

    Rock on, grandma.

  49. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    It’s a hanging chad.

  50. doc Avatar
    doc

    a hanging chad…. No wonder we were confused.

  51. jin krause Avatar
    jin krause

    http://www.samuelyellin.com/store/

    It’s missing a piece, its a candle holder.
    See above site.

  52. tnoe Avatar
    tnoe

    it’s a bracelet!!!

  53. Mystery heirloom

    […] Mystery heirloom – Link. […]

  54. ike plemons Avatar
    ike plemons

    DocPop is awesome! i have yim yam and ram recordings from the very start. glad you solved your mystery.

    ikeplemons@gmail.com

  55. Hug1 Avatar
    Hug1

    My Grannmother had one and she was a keen knitter. I remember my Grandfather using it to pierce boiled eggs – much to Grans annoiance – but he has a bit eccentric tho´.

  56. Tech News » Blog Archive » What Does This Gadget Do?

    […] The Case of the Mystery Heirloom [Docpop via Make] […]

  57. praenomenal Avatar
    praenomenal

    IT would be pretty easy to fashion a replacement.

  58. dan Avatar
    dan

    I don’t know , but it should be band ! or taxed and never
    aloud on a aircraft,court room or school .

  59. SUSAN Avatar
    SUSAN

    PAY NO MIND TO MY BROTHER ABOVE, WHO APPARENTLEY HAS HAD ENOUGH BEERS TODAY. BUT I WROTE A BIG PARAGRAPH ON WHAT I THINK THE THING WAS, AND DELETED IT ACCEDENTILY.

    SO NOW ….I’VE HAD TOO MANY BEERS TO DESCRIBE THIS THING. LOL

    THE UP-SHOT IS, IT IS FOR SOME KIND OF DISPLAY, BECAUSE OF IT’S PORTABILITY. IT’S DESIGN IS NOT MEANT TO BEA USED AS A WORKING “TOOL” AND I AGREE WITH THE CANDLE HOLDER IDEA. IT’S PRETTY, BUT FUNCTIONAL FOR SURE OF CANDLE, THE DESIGN IS MEANT TO STAND ALONE, AND AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS. IF YOU TURN IT TO IT’S SIDE, YOU LOOSE FUNCTIONALITY.

    SO, IN UP-RIGHT LIKE SHOWN, MAYBE IT’S A “GUIDE” FOR SOME TYPE OF HOBBY OR CRAFT. IT SURLEY CAN’T BEAR LOADS OF ANY OTHER IDEA THAT I CAN THINK OF.

  60. Keith M Avatar
    Keith M

    Ok how about the deal that its for jewelers to work on ring fittings when they wear a loupe. Kinda like an extra finger to hold the ring.

  61. Forrest Avatar
    Forrest

    Hi guys it is a candle stick, but it is a travlers candel stick form aprox 1850’s england, I sold one a few years ago in boston, it had a nice leather case and a mens shaving kit that fit into the case

  62. NAT Avatar
    NAT

    IT IS A FIRE STARTER! lense holder

  63. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    thred holder?

  64. Graphic Design Melburne Avatar
    Graphic Design Melburne

    I think it is meant to poke around in your brain 🙂
    if the middle thing holds sth when folded I still don't know what the pointy end is…

  65. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    nice post..
    quality inn sweepstakes

  66. ipod touch microphone Avatar
    ipod touch microphone

    There is obviously a lot to know about this.

  67. Vrnjacka Banja Avatar
    Vrnjacka Banja

    Hm. I am not sure what is this, but I have several ideas where can it be used. But definatly it is some positioning instrument. For example, if you have to move some object, you can place it back where it was before. I think in movie studios I sow something similar, when they have to continue some scene, but they have to move some objects.

  68. Vrnjacka Banja Avatar
    Vrnjacka Banja

    Hm. I am not sure what is this, but I have several ideas where can it be used. But definatly it is some positioning instrument. For example, if you have to move some object, you can place it back where it was before. I think in movie studios I sow something similar, when they have to continue some scene, but they have to move some objects.

  69. Trish Avatar
    Trish

    This is a Japanese Traveling Candlestick made by Samuel Yellin Metalworkers in Phila. You are missing a little round disc that inserts and twists to hold the candlestick folded closed, and then you take that piece, place it over the 'point' and it becomes the base of the candle to catch the drips. The missing piece is stamped Samuel Yellin Metalworks on the left of the hole, and Philadelphia PA 19139 USA on the right of hole. I have one int he original box and with the brochure.

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