However...(unless I missed something in my skim thru) if you read the
text....the (ligneous) disk is made of wood, fiber-board, wood pulp, or
papier-mache...so as to be somewhat absorbant (so, not rubber)...that it
expands in contact with moisture from the milk...to form a tight seal.
And also pliable to be picked out...and then repositioned after use.
Also, the disk is soaked in parafine to seal it (yet wouldn't that make
it non-absorbing?).  I don't think Candace's disks have a parafine
coating - of course, this could have melted off over time. ?

Nice patent hunt tho Bob.  :o)

>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On 
>Behalf Of Bob Skiles
>Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 1:20 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Weird disks
>
>Please note Figure 2 here:
>
>http://www.google.com/patents?id=2SFlAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA43&dq=ininve
ntor:Barnhart&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=2007&as_maxm_ap=1&as_
maxy_ap=2007>&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=9&as_miny_is=1889&as_maxm_is=9&as_
maxy
>_is=1889#PPA43,M1
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>"There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and 
>birth, without either virtue or talents ... The artificial 
>aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government, and 
>provisions should be made to prevent its ascendancy."
>
>- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bob Genheimer" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 12:48 PM
>Subject: Re: Weird disks
>
>
>> Candace
>>
>> Could they possibly be milk bottle stoppers.  Most were made 
>from heavy 
>> cardboard or cork, but these appear to be about the right size.
>>
>> Bob Genheimer
>> George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
>> Cincinnati Museum Center
>> 1301 Western Avenue
>> Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
>> 513-455-7161
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
>> Candace Ehringer
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 12:54 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Weird disks
>>
>>
>> I have several rubber? (or possibly ceramic?) disks which 
>came from a 
>> privy or
>> trash dump next to a Los Angeles school cafeteria (ca. 
>1890s-1910s+). Has
>> anyone ever seen anything like them before? Six of them have "M & M"
>> stamped on both sides and one has "HQ" stamped on both sides. They
>> measure 1-1/2 inches in diameter and are 1/8 inch thick.  I would 
>> appreciate
>> any help. My internet research has proved futile. Photos can 
>be viewed at 
>> the
>> link below.
>>
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/10925368@N07/ 
>