If it had a spring inside it might be a spool for a paper roll from an
adding machine or some other device that feeds receipt paper from a roll,
similar to spring-tension spools for toilet tissue rolls.

Allen Dart, RPA, Executive Director
Old Pueblo Archaeology Center
PO Box 40577
Tucson AZ  85717-0577   USA
    520-798-1201 office, 520-798-1966 fax
    Email: [log in to unmask]
    URL: www.oldpueblo.org
------------------------------------------------------------

On Mon, February 25, 2008 8:20 am, Bob Genheimer wrote:
> It seems unlikely that this is a fountain pen.  I am a pen collector, and
> know a fair amount about their history, and I have never seen any pen case
> that looks like this.  First of all it is too short.  It does appear to be
> a container, but for what?  Pencil lead?
>
> Bob Genheimer
> George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
> Cincinnati Museum Center
> 1301 Western Avenue
> Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
> 513-455-7161
> 513-455-7169 fax
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Denis
> Gojak
> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 12:47 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: ARTEFACT IDENTIFICATION
>
>
> Hi Karen
>
> Initial guess is a retractable [or even retractible] fountain pen.  The
> screwing action activates the ink refilling.  I suspect these mechanisms
> were patented as I also know of ones that used lever and push filling.
>
> cheers
>
> Denis
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Karen Murphy" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 3:17 PM
> Subject: ARTEFACT IDENTIFICATION
>
>
>> Hi all
>>
>>
>>
>> During excavations at a late-19th century timber mill settlement on Lake
>> Cootharaba, in southeast Queensland, Australia, an interesting metal
>> artefact was found.  It is a cylindrical item around 6cm long, with what
>> appears to be a knob that twisted around the barrel of the item,
>> possibly
>> extending and retracting an interior piece.  An image of the item is
>> available at http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=78055
>> <http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=78055&pid=42037> &pid=42037
>>
>>
>>
>> We have come up with a few suggestions and ideas here, but would
>> appreciate
>> any more concrete information and identification of such an item.  And
>> whether people have come across something similar in their work? Or any
>> other ideas?
>>
>>
>>
>> Your help is appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Karen
>>
>>
>>
>> ----
>>
>> Karen Murphy
>>
>> School of Social Science
>>
>> (Anthropology, Archaeology, Criminology, Sociology)
>>
>> University of Queensland
>>
>> Brisbane  QLD  4072
>>
>> Australia
>>
>>
>>
>> Ph: +61 7 3346 9551
>>
>> M: 0401 644 678
>>
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Visit the Mill
>> <http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=42037&pid=41684>
>> Point Archaeological Project website
>>
>>
>>
>> Queensland State Representative
>>
>> Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
>>
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> BODIES DOUBLE FEATURE
>
> BODIES...The Exhibition, the blockbuster people can't stop talking about.
> See it with the companion OMNIMAX film,
>
> THE HUMAN BODY. You only have one body. Start taking better care of it,
> beginning with a visit to Cincinnati Museum Center.
>