Thanks for the suggestions Harding.  
We have no idea if the items are related...since trash was recovered during monitoring grading...so was spread around some (not in a privy or concentration).  

The recovered items includes a "rare" spring water bottle from a local spring (Bradley).  I found ads in directories for the company, but am not sure when they first started bottling their water (since early ads mention gallon qty, implying buyers brought their own containers).  The company name changed in the 1905 ad to include "Bottling" ...but, does that mean they didn't bottle their water until 1904ish?  I need to look thru (more) old newspapers...but the little I have done so...didn't include drawings of bottles with their ads.  :o(


-----Original Message-----
From: Harding Polk <[log in to unmask]>
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, Jun 28, 2013 7:59 am
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