Featured What do you call this?

I found this "toy" today and was wondering what the proper name for these are (and if anyone may know how old it is). Its two pieces, about 25" tall, and on the heavy side. No marking on it. Any info is, as always, appreciated.

 

Looks like a whimsey windmill thingy, set up on a roof, it saws wood in the wind. Ones I’ve seen are attached to a windmill that powers them. Not sure if this had one or where the crankshaft was attached. The long heel was the pivot and whole thing rocked to “saw” the wood. Popular in northeast coastal areas in US. Folk art. Whirligig.

https://www.google.com/search?q=wind whimsy folk art wood sawing&tbm=isch

 

On second thought, yours may have been mounted to pivot freely, spinning on the heel in the wind. Black stool was added to display it inside.

 

Try looking under "Balance Toy". Here are some newer versions...
http://treasures2remember.com/product-category/victorian-balance-toys/

 

can you could move the teethed rail and arm upwards ?

 

No. The figure is all one piece of metal

 

A superb piece of folk art, very intriguing too for me from overseas, is it possible that the base in wood is not original, and is the counterweigt heavy or not, when free is the piece at the foot pressing on the base?
For me with the clothing and the pipe, it's second part of the 19th century

 

It is wonderful -- so quirky

 

Great folk art, Christopher.

In Belgium they call these 'zageman', sawman. Zagen means to saw in Dutch, but it also means going on and on about a subject.
The Belgians used to have a zageman in café's, and gave it a tap when someone just wouldn't stop talking, or was being nasty. The person knew it was time to stop, without having to be told. If the talker noticed.


Gender equality:

 

In researching this piece I've found a couple more, practically identical, examples which appear to be from the same time period. I was always under the impression that items such as these were largely one of a kind "folk art" pieces. But, it appears that this particular one may have been mass produced. Albeit on a smaller scale.

 

It is still nice though. And a production of more than one isn't necessarily mass production.

 

Endless "help to identify" talent you have, AJ

 

Does that mean it is time to give the zageman a little tap?

 

It is a Belgian zageman. Wen somboddy talks to long about the same subject, we name that zagen[thoking and thoking over one not interresting subject. Then ther was that little man hanging in the pub or café. Wen the bos thoucht dat it was enuf, and the man must be stopt, the bos gave the little zageman a puch at a moment that the speaker dit not see. After some thime the man, and everyboddy motest that de zageman was mooving. It was an inducation that someboddy was saying the same for a wild, and he has to stop. Whoe did the zageman move? noboddy has seen. I hope that you know more about that little man now. Sorry for my bad English, but i m from Belgium. My best regards, William Peeters.

 

THis is a Belgian zageman. It hangs in a pub or cafe, and wen someboddy talks to long about the same thing the bos of the café give the zageman a little puch, and after some thime the man who talks to mutsh en to long and the other costemers have seen that the zageman was moving, and is was thime to chanhe the conversation. Zagen is dutch for saying the same thing over and over. Kined regards, William Peeters, Belgium.

 

Sorry for my bad English, but i m from Belgium.

Yes...very bad ......BUT ....you try so hard that no one can be upset with you , & we all welcome new members with information that is helpful and funny too !!!

SO..... do not worry......you are welcome here !!!!!!
& yes.....We like Belgium !!!!!
& yes.....we are from many countries......
So......
Welcome from Canada !!!!

 

And welcome from the U.S. midwest. Your English is far better than my Flemish!

 

Welkom op het forum, William.
We have several Flemish members. I am a neighbour from just north of you, the Netherlands.
My apologies to the other forum members, but I think the address issue is best explained in Dutch:

@William Peeters , het is veiliger als u niet uw e-mail adres toevoegt. Dit is een openbaar forum, en er zijn kwaadwillenden die u lastig zouden kunnen vallen met onzin, of erger. Hieronder vraag ik de moderator of hij uw email hier wil verwijderen. Dat heeft geen invloed op uw lidmaatschap, het maakt het alleen veiliger voor u.

@daveydempsey , could you please remove William's email address?

 

Thanks, @daveydempsey .