The Gristmill What’s It Column for December 2014
157-1
This is a drag shoe or ruggle. It’s a type of brake to prevent a heavily loaded wagon from overpowering the horses on a steep downhill grade, when attached to a wheel it makes the wagon slide down the hill instead of roll.
157-2
A jar wrench and lid reformer, for repairing dented lids, patent number 846,016.
157-3
No answer yet
157-4
This is a cotton gin saw filing machine, patent number 1989561
The Gristmill What’s It Column for September 2014
156-1
156-2 This piece of hardware is used to make a ramp to help get logs up onto a wagon, these are used in a pair, each is placed on top of a wagon wheel, a log is then put into the U shape with the other end going on the ground. Horses on the other side of the wagon can then pull the log up the ramp and into the bed of the wagon.
156-3 6-1/2″ long, haven’t yet found a reference for this clamp, looks like it could have been used for lifting something or attached to the flange of a beam and then used to hang a light fixture etc.
156-4 This is a M1917-1919 Browning machine gun wrench:
The Gristmill What’s It Column for June 2014
155-1. A Crescent Lite Firelighter, for lighting oil burning furnaces, patent number 2,448,622:
155-2. A holder for the collapsed roof of an early convertible car:
155-3. Possibly a drill for use with a bow:
155-4. This is a corn husker, according to patent number 27,638, “…it both strips off the husks and severs the ear from the stalk.”
The Gristmill What’s It Column for March 2014
154-1. This is a grappling hook that was designed to remove objects that were dropped in a well, patent number 435,590:
154-2. According to a M-WTCA member, “this is a Dixon leather splitter frame. Made by Dixon in England. It is missing the roller and blade. The blade is fixed and the bottom wheel adjusts a roller up and down to set the thickness of the finished leather split. This
same pattern of leather splitter is still being made by Dixon.“
154-3. This is a piston expander, patent number 2,289,941:
154-4. 7″ long, 13/16″ wide, no answer yet:
