Unusual tools guessing game

I don't want to waste anyone's time letting them think I need help because I don't, I know what these are. Since they aren't that common I thought you might enjoy figuring out what they are. Sry for mediocre pix. Longer one is 55 in. long and 9 in. wide, other one is 34 in. long. Materials appear to be hardwood for handles and steel or wrought iron for other parts.

 

Glass maker's tools.

 

Crucible holders and pourers from a foundry?

 

Ya'll are getting warm but....

I'm sure one of you hotshots will get it before long.

 

Hmmm I guess I wrote that too soon, all of our hot shots must be taking the day off!

 

Come to think of it, only the few red-hot shots we have would have a chance at getting this one anyway, so there are just a few of those and if they aren't back from Vegas yet...

 

Well there I go again, some of the members will probably take that as one of my usual incendiary comments and get all p.o.'d. What they really need to do is think outside the box, which is square, so don't think square now, think...

 

RARE CIVIL WAR SURGEONS CANNONBALL EXTRACTOR









But really, I'm with AF. I see a lifting tongs and pouring shank.

 

Yes one is in very general terms, lifting tongs, but the two items are used together and are very specialized. Each comment I made is a clue.

 

Glad you are on the ball there Davey but you have to get a lot warmer.

 

I have toyed with you long enough. When a shore battery fires red hot shot, it is carried from the furnace with one tool and loaded with the other. Do remember, without the wet wad the ball will set the cannon off early and even with it, don;t take too lo long aiming the thing if you don't want your foot crushed when the gun recoils while you are in the way.

 

PS. The bigger tool is the loader. I knew reading all of C S Forester's books would come in handy one day.

 

Way to go AF, 100% correct, tongs and carrier for red-hot shot, used at sea coast-defense forts. The forts each had one special furnace with sloping tracks inside to guide the cannonballs gradually downward as they were heated to red-hot. One such shot lodging in the side of a wooden ship would start a fire that was almost impossible to extinguish.

 

Earl Cunningham next to hot-shot furnace at Ft. Marion, St. Augustine FL in 1924.

 

Bet they used these in the Batsto area in the Pine Barrens of NJ during the revolution.
I don't recall seeing any in the museum there though.