All,
I would agree with Marty Pickands idea that it is a retractable grease pencil and or chalk holder since it was found in the context of a saw mill. These are still used for marking lengths and high grading timber products in mills today. There is a similar item on page 104 of the Forestry Suppliers 2007-2008 catalog. Its plastic instead of brass.
Maybe its a fancy chalk holder for the mill forman???
Just a thought....
Jason Smith
Plantation Manager
The Borough Plantation
First private pine farm in South Carolina, 1927
HISTARCH automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
There are 30 messages totalling 1274 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. ARTEFACT IDENTIFICATION (3)
2. Artifact ID (26)
3. Forward from Kelly Gray re opium bottles and usage
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:41:31 -0500
From: Marty Pickands
Subject: Re: ARTEFACT IDENTIFICATION
I guess I'm getting into the game on this a bit late, but I've seen retractable grease pencils very much like this made of plastic to this day. Same size, shape and function. The rusty part could be a pocket clip like the ones found on pens as well as retractable grease pencils. It would be interesting to know when they were first patented. Perhaps you could locate one in a nineteenth century office supply catalog.
Marty Pickands
New York State Museum
>>> Karen Murphy 2/24/2008 11:17 PM >>>
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
&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
Point Archaeological Project website
Queensland State Representative
Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
Email: [log in to unmask]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:18:22 -0500
From: Patrick Martin
Subject: Re: ARTEFACT IDENTIFICATION
I think the pipe tool idea is very plausible. Combination tamper and
reamer/bore drill. I have seen something similar in Germany.
Whadda you think, Smoke Pfeiffer, tobacco guy?
PEMartin
On Feb 24, 2008, at 11:17 PM, Karen Murphy wrote:
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
&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 page=42037&pid=41684>
Point Archaeological Project website
Queensland State Representative
Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
Email: [log in to unmask]
Patrick E. Martin
Professor of Archaeology
Department of Social Sciences
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931
phone 906-487-2070,email [log in to unmask]
www.industrialarchaeology.net
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:54:27 -0500
From: Carl Steen
Subject: Artifact ID
I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
Thanks
Carl Steen
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:00:12 -0500
From: "Davis, Daniel (KYTC)"
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
A vial of blood from Billy Bob Thornton?
Is the glass red or is it just the liquid within the container?
Daniel B. Davis
Archaeologist Coordinator
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Division of Environmental Analysis
200 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40622
(502) 564-7250
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Artifact ID
I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
Thanks
Carl Steen
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:03:01 -0800
From: Carol Serr
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
I assume that is liquid inside?
Are the ends broken off (yet still sealed)?...as if the item may have
been longer?
Is the glass red...or just the liquid? (I assume the glass?).
Bob Skiles will probably know. :o)
I don't have time now to go Hunting online...
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Artifact ID
I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
Thanks
Carl Steen
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:06:41 -0500
From: Andy Sewell
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
Carl:
Looks like a part of one of those old Christmas Tree bubbler lights. For
some odd reason, the best image I could find online was from an internet
humor site, i-mockery.com:
http://www.i-mockery.com/blabber/pics/vintage-xmas-bubble-lights.jpg
There was a website called oldchristmaslights.com but it doesn't appear to
be functional.
Andrew R. Sewell, MS, RPA
Principal Investigator
Historical/Industrial Archaeology
Hardlines Design Company
4608 Indianola Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43214
ph. (614)-784-8733
fax (614)-784-9336
________________________________
This mailbox protected from junk email by MailFrontier Desktop
from MailFrontier, Inc. http://info.mailfrontier.com
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Artifact ID
I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
Thanks
Carl Steen
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:06:53 -0600
From: David Parkhill
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
This item resembles a medicine vial we used once upon a time in the
hospital service. We took a sharp instrument and cut one end , broke
it off, then used a syringe and needle to evacuate the medicine
within. Common substance was morphine.
DP
At 12:54 PM 2/26/2008, you wrote:
>I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
>
>http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
>
>Thanks
>Carl Steen
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
>http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:07:51 -0500
From: Carl Steen
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
The liquid is reddish brown.?
-----Original Message-----
From: Davis, Daniel (KYTC)
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 2:00 pm
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
A vial of blood from Billy Bob Thornton?
Is the glass red or is it just the liquid within the container?
Daniel B. Davis
Archaeologist Coordinator
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Division of Environmental Analysis
200 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40622
(502) 564-7250
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Artifact ID
I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
Thanks
Carl Steen
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:00:16 -0500
From: "Sichler, Judith"
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
Is it one of those old "bubbler" Christmas lights that are making a
comeback?
Judith A. Sichler, Ph.D., RPA
MACTEC E&C- Knoxville
865/588-8544x1158 - Fax 865/588-8026
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Artifact ID
I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
Thanks
Carl Steen
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:08:33 +0000
From: Jim Gibb
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
Looks like part of a level, although it would be odd for it to survive by itself. Even a wooden level has some metal parts.
--
Gibb Archaeological Consulting
James G. Gibb, Ph.D.
2554 Carrollton Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
(443) 482-9593
www.gibbarchaeology.org
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Carl Steen
> I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
>
> http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
>
> Thanks
> Carl Steen
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
> http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:16:01 -0500
From: "Beverly, J. Howard"
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
A leveling bubble??
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:22:23 EST
From: Ron May
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
I got it! Oooo. Oooo. I got it! This is a line level bubble.
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.
In a message dated 2/26/2008 10:54:47 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/
2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:43:23 EST
From: Ron May
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
I suggest the line level fell out of a dig kit (ever helpful).
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.
In a message dated 2/26/2008 11:18:24 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Looks like part of a level, although it would be odd for it to survive by
itself. Even a wooden level has some metal parts.
**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/
2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:50:53 -0500
From: Allen Vegotsky
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
Carl,
It looks like a pharmaceutical ampule, in which case it would probably have
been used to maintain a drug in sterile condition during shipping. The
ampule would probably have been prepared and used approximately as follows
In a laboratory, a glass tube would be sealed at one end at high
temperature. After cooling, the drug would have been added aseptically.
Then with the ampule held vertically, the open top end would have been heat
sealed. (Additional steps would be needed to prevent the glass from
breaking during the process.) After receiving the ampule, the recipient
(probably a physician) would make a file mark at one of the tapered ends,
break off that end, and remove the fluid with a hypodermic syringe for
injecting. The reddish brown color may be the original color, because
oxidation would be inhibited in the ampule, but the solution may also have
deteriorated over time and discolored.
Allen
> [Original Message]
> From: Carl Steen
> To:
> Date: 2/26/2008 2:01:34 PM
> Subject: Artifact ID
>
> I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
>
> http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
>
> Thanks
> Carl Steen
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:56:46 -0500
From: "T.W. Bodor"
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
Looks to me like the small thermometer piece that is found inside a common home thermostat.?
-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Serr
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 2:03 pm
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
I assume that is liquid inside?
Are the ends broken off (yet still sealed)?...as if the item may have
been longer?
Is the glass red...or just the liquid? (I assume the glass?).
Bob Skiles will probably know. :o)
I don't have time now to go Hunting online...
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Artifact ID
I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
Thanks
Carl Steen
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:01:20 -0500
From: "Cranmer, Leon"
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
It's definitely not from a Christmas tree bubble light. They are flat
on the bottom to make the best contact with the bulb that heats them up.
I've never seen a level bulb that was not rounded on the ends. Also the
color would make it hard to see the bubble. And the bubble itself is
awfully big to be used as a level. It looks like the ends were meant to
be broken off. Perfume samples come in long thin tubes with similar
ends. I would think the medicine vial suggestion sounds good. Could
also fit in with a fort context.
Lee Cranmer
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:02:56 -0500
From: "Lyle E. Browning"
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
The Christmas bubble lights didn't (from my dim memories of those
times) have two pointed ends and were wider as well. Levels never to
my knowledge had red glass.
That looks like a medical ampule for which the surrounding packing has
rotted away. They held ammonia or something similar to wake up folks
in a hurry. They looked like a skinny Tampax with enough packing that
the glass (which itself was very thin) couldn't get through to injure
the person who broke it.
Lyle Browning
On Feb 26, 2008, at 1:54 PM, Carl Steen wrote:
> I found this item in a mid 20th century context. Any ideas? Image at:
>
> http://38ch69.com/What%20page.html
>
> Thanks
> Carl Steen
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:02:49 +0100
From: geoff carver
Subject: Re: Artifact ID
It is a medicine ampule; by the colour, it could be almost anything, but
(except for the shape) looks exactly like my vitamin B12
-----Original Message-----
The liquid is reddish brown.?
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:25:52 -0600
From: Smoke
Subject: Re: ARTEFACT IDENTIFICATION
The most common tools are the pipe tamper, the reamer/scraper, and the
pick/poker. Pipe tampers, like tobacco pipes, have been made in every
conceivable material. I have never seen a retractable one but then I
continue to be surprised at the wide variety of tobacco related accessories
around the world. If they are made from wood, bamboo, horn or antler, they
usually have some sort of metal cap that comes in contact with the burning
tobacco to keep them from getting charred. (but not always:
http://www.papaduke.net/tampers.htm) For some pewter pipe tampers, see:
http://www.ramshornstudio.com/pipe_tampers.htm
http://catniphill.com/shop/page2.html
Brass tampers at: http://www.pipetobacco.com/page/pipet/CTGY/btam
For common pipe tools, check out:
http://www.thepiperoom.com/accessories/accessories.html#zippopipetool
http://smokersgifts.com/xcart/customer/home.php?cat=12
Tongue in cheeek article on pipe tampers:
http://www.naspc.org/expensive_tamper.htm
Sexy pipe tamper recovered from an historical archaeological site in
Philadelphia: http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=14102
American Civil War era pipe tamper:
http://www.fairfax.org.uk/MAIN/ARTICLES/RESEARCH/claypipes/claypipes.HTM
This will give you some ideas on pipe tampers.
:-)
Smoke Pfeiffer
On 2/26/08, Patrick Martin
wrote:
>
> I think the pipe tool idea is very plausible. Combination tamper and
> reamer/bore drill. I have seen something similar in Germany.
> Whadda you think, Smoke Pfeiffer, tobacco guy?
>
> PEMartin
>
> On Feb 24, 2008, at 11:17 PM, Karen Murphy wrote:
>
> 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
> &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 > page=42037&pid=41684>
> Point Archaeological Project website
>
>
>
> Queensland State Representative
>
> Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
>
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> Patrick E. Martin
> Professor of Archaeology
> Department of Social Sciences
> Michigan Technological University
> Houghton, MI 49931
> phone 906-487-2070,email [log in to unmask]
> www.industrialarchaeology.net
>
--
Smoke Pfeiffer
Remember: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away!
=== message truncated ===
---------------------------------
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