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Hello, everyone!

Need a little help identifying what I suspect is a shop tool of some kind...

For the past several Christmases, I've included a small antique/vintage oddity with my father's gift, and the whole family kind of makes a game of guessing what it could be. And this year, I picked up what I hope is a good one; the guy selling it out of his small-town mechanic shop couldn't even tell me what it was.

It's got a little weight to it -- nearly a pound. No markings; plain, worn handle.







I would very much appreciate any help. Thank you!

 

Hi, Lindsey! What a cool idea for your family for the holidays.

I don't have a clue what this might be, so why don't I start the guessing...?

How about something used to start a fire in the fireplace or something along those lines?

 

Hey SBSVC! I also wondered if it was a fire starter of some kind... or a weird mini flail.

 

Welcome to the forum, Lindsey.

Yes, that articulated part is puzzling, it is clearly made to move. The whole thing is puzzling.
Can you open it and see what's inside?

 

Welcome to Antiquers Lindsey!

Could it be a tool for frying cookies?

Something like Rossettes?

 

depends on whats inside...

 

Can't open it -- there's only one seam and, as you can see in one of the photos, there are a couple sturdy staples that enclose the whole intricately-woven thing.

But whatever hard stuff is inside (Concrete? Ancient gunk?), there appear to be little black things stuck in it. Tried taking a close up...

 

Hadn't thought of that! Or maybe a small sifter of some kind..?

 

Sponge?

 

try setting it on fire..........

 

Very cool, @Lindsey P. Maybe meant to be carried inside another protective container? I don't know why it swings ?



Now, I didn't see this one coming - George Nelson Fires Starter for Herman Miller:





We have something you can give him next year

 

Looks like a pumice stone fire starter.

 

looks like the metal is pitted from being on fire..

 

Is it used to start steam engines??? Think I saw one in a movie just before they shot up the aliens

 

Battleship !

 

That's the one. Funny how the aliens can travel gazillions of miles but can't shoot for Sh**.

 

ummm...didn't they waste a ship or two....!

 

At point blank range the woosies

 

I think your dad might enjoy this. So far, Antiquers are up to 5 pages of speculation (OK, with SOME digression) on what it might be

Can Anyone Identify This?

 

What kind of mechanic was he?