Following up on the wrench, I believe it is a box-end ratchet wrench.  The ratchet part and the small lever that reverses the direction are so rust-encased as to be invisible, but the lumps are in the right places.

Bill Lockhart



-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Harding Polk
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 8:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: more items of unknown function (whatzits)

Here are some possibilities.  Assuming that both items are related to a wood burning cook stove.  The coil cool handle may come from a warming drawer or  cabinet door and would have been attached at either end with a bracket to the door. The other item may be a "wrench" to lever the grates under the firebox to shake down the ashes.  The ashes would fall into a metal open topped box for easy removal of the ashes. 


Harding Polk II
[log in to unmask]




-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Serr <[log in to unmask]>
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, Jun 27, 2013 6:02 pm
Subject: more items of unknown function (whatzits)


Hello,

I added photos of two 'rusty' items...that maybe someone Knows what they are (once were)...??  All from same collection (331 items total, so not a Huge assemblage).

One looks sorta like a 'cool handle' lifter for a wood stove lid...but, it has a domed headed bolt at 1 end and 1/2" sq. nut on opposite end...so, doesn't seem to be the handle.  But Why the coil around a bolt?

The link again is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/playingwithtrash/
Once there...double click on a photo...and it opens them in a new "slide show" 
format...and you should see my comments/questions at the very bottom.  There should be a way for You to Comment on a photo...but, um...I don't remember how (I find it very user Unfriendly to find my way around in Flickr!).
Of course, you can always comment thru email.

Thanks for any input.

Carol