skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Antique Victorian CAST IRON GAS LIGHT BRACKET Electric? - eBay (item 310074896415 end time Aug-17-08 19:28:06 PDT)This antique swing-arm cast iron gas light bracket is very ornate and eye-catching. It would swing in a half circle. I see no maker's mark.
There's a hole in the bottom of the round globe holder where I supposed gas could enter the light, but I don't understand how it works.
I live in an old house and have vestiges of the original gas lights in the form of gas pipes here and there, cut off and capped. How one would connect to this is beyond me.
Maybe this is an electric light? Missing the part that holds the bulb and has the on/off switch? In any case, it's very pretty.
Vintage Cast Iron OLD ROOSTER WEATHER VANE Wind Vein! - eBay (item 310068080244 end time Jul-22-08 19:08:28 PDT)This 17-inch high cast iron rooster weather vane used to sit atop a bird house. It has three leaf-shaped legs, the four directions, and a proud chicken standing on an arrow. I see no maker's mark.
It was assembled wrong when I photographed it. The half circles form a ball above and below the N, S, E and W letter bars. They were reversed and now nestle into each other better. The direction arms unit can be turned, but not as easily as the rooster and arrow which spin easily.
Vintage EUREKA NO. 1 6SB CAR JACK Cast Iron Screw Type! - eBay (item 310063253143 end time Jul-04-08 20:21:16 PDT)This vintage cast iron car jack is marked, "Eureka No. 1 SB" on the body front and "K" on the body back. The handle is marked, "6SB Ashland O" and "Ashland Mfg Co."
I wouldn't trust this old jack any further than I can throw it. Maybe it was meant for a lightweight car like an old Model T as it doesn't lift very high--from 9 1/2" to 15 1/2". Yes, it works, but I can imagine slippage between the gears is possible, even likely under a heavy load.
I didn't clean it up much, just rubbed off some of the rusty crust. A good oiling and rub and scrub might make a wonderful difference so you can display this old car tool with pride.
Vintage Cast Iron PARROT BOTTLE OPENER Freestanding! - eBay (item 310027058312 end time Mar-04-08 17:59:47 PST) This vintage bottle opener is a painted cast iron parrot that stands upright, ready to grab and open a bottle with his open hooked beak. The side of the stand is marked, "JW©."
The color is clearest on the blue outer tail, yellow under tail and black stand. Some red shows on the belly, black beak, white face and maybe blue or green wings. Most of the original color is obscured by heavy patina.
The open beak of this parrot bottle opener is still sharply hooked and likely opens a bottle cap quick as a wink. It might open a can just as readily.
Blogged with Flock
Vintage 1900 CAST IRON REX RIVETER Old Tool Still Works - eBay (item 310020907625 end time Feb-12-08 19:40:31 PST) This vintage cast iron riveter is marked, "Rex" and "27" on the side, "28" on the handle, and "Pat Oct 9, 1900" on the other side. It's rather hard to make out the date due to the rough finish.
The tool works very smoothly. The handle flies upright when you start to lift it, and it locks down when you want to clamp the jaws. I think it's for setting rivets into leather. The feet have slots for bolting the riveter to a table.
There's not much of the original shiny black finish left, just small spots on one side. The handle moves easily and compresses the two cylindrical parts together.
Blogged with Flock
Vintage ENTERPRISE 16 CHERRY STONER Hand Crank Pitter! - eBay (item 310015486698 end time Jan-23-08 18:53:58 PST) This vintage metal kitchen tool is heavy as cast iron, but silver in color and embossed, "16 Cherry Stoner, Enterprise Phila. U.S.A." It has a big screw to clamp it to a table or counter edge.
I don't know what the 16 stands for. The year it was made? I researched on eBay and found another model similar to this but with an extra part. It came out in 1917.
I think you feed cherries into the big chute, turn the crank to squeeze them through a small opening and they come out the little chute. Do the pits come out with the mashed cherries or stay in the first chute? I don't know.
The crank turns easily as does the clamp screw. The silvery finish has much patina.
Blogged with Flock
Vintage Cast Iron J.A. SEXAUER WRENCH Slim Open Ended! - eBay (item 310014983374 end time Jan-21-08 18:39:48 PST) This vintage cast iron wrench is embossed on the handle with the maker, "J. A. Sexauer Mfg Co" and "U.S.A. And Canada." There's a small hallmark that I can't make out. I keep thinking it looks like the Phantom's Skull Ring, but that's likely just me. Being married to a cartoonist can warp a person.
It's an open-ended wrench that's very thin in profile, measuring only 5/16" thick at the jaws and 1/2" thick at the handle. The finish has patina and one chip. The white mark you see in the photo later scratched off.
The openings measure 2 5/8" and 1 7/8" wide. Or 66 mm and 48 mm.
Blogged with Flock
Antique 1880 Cast Iron HOME MINE HOIST Hand Crank Works - eBay (item 310012918391 end time Jan-12-08 19:57:16 PST) This antique cast iron hoist was used in small or home mines to hoist loads up by hand. There's no maker's name on it, only old patent dates galore.
The inside handle arm is marked, "June 29, 1875" except the J is covered with an obscuring bit of metal. Above the brake handle it says, "July 13-80." Above the roller it says, "July 5, 81." And beside the clamp lever it says, "July 11-82."
This old tool still works! I forgot to photograph it with the crank handle up to show that it cranks all the way around. The wooden grip on the crank has a small crack near the outer end and is a bit bent so it looks wonky as it turns. Some miner must have cranked up some darn heavy loads of coal or shale to bend that handle.
The brake still locks and the clamp lever turns. The hoist kind of jingles when you turn the crank.
Blogged with Flock
Vintage EARLY AMERICAN CAST IRON DOLL FURNITURE SET Box - eBay (item 310012227041 end time Jan-09-08 19:01:01 PST)
Do you like doll house furniture?
This Early American Cast Iron Furniture Set is still in the original box marked, "Made in Taiwan Republic of China." It includes four pieces. There's a couch or sofa or love seat and a chair and a footstool, all with a tufted look and sweet details. See the heart shape openings in the back of the couch and chair?
There's also a table with an ornate leg and base. The table top isn't level. The photo showing the side view shows the wonky tilt.
I'm charmed by the way the couch and chair parts are held together with a nail through a tab and slot deal in the center back. The center of the table top sports a flat screw head.
The original box is in deplorable condition. The lid is torn and stained, one side is torn halfway down, and the couch feet are sticking out the bottom of the box. One side has handwritten, "Furniture Set Meg" and another side says, "3928."
Blogged with Flock
Vintage THE CHICAGO Old Cast Iron Tool Riveter? Emboss? - (eBay item 310009420712 end time Dec-26-07 17:25:04 PST)Do you like old cast iron tools?
This vintage cast iron tool is a mystery to me. Is it a snap setter or riveter or what? It's marked, "The Chicago, Pat Apld For." The other side says, "7." Not too informative. Is it an embosser with the seals missing?
Why does it have a part that looks like an anvil? That makes me think it might be a shoemaker's tool for installing eyelets. The handle moves completely out of the way, perhaps for hammering the eyelets down good and tight on the anvil end.
There's not much of the original shiny black finish left. The handle moves easily and compresses the two cylindrical parts together.
Does this vintage cast iron mystery tool make you smile?
Blogged with Flock
Stumble It!
