Need Help - Wooden and Iron Handles?

[amking8]

I found these two "handles", I have no idea what they are I am need some help identifying them. They were held together by two large safety pins, one had nothing on it but the other had a stamped number on it with a charm attached to it with the same stamped number.

They are made of wood with what looks to be iron attached to one edge, each have a iron ring hanging off the side of it and then an iron ring attached to one of it. They are about three feet in length, there are no stamps or markings of any kind on the wooden or iron pieces.

The only stamped number is on one of the safety pins. Thanks for any help in advance!

[Tn Gizmo]

I believe those are horse/mule hames not handles, Don't know what the pins are for. Have a great day.
Richard

[taz42o]

The numbered pin is a Risdon key / laundry tag , found with a hames I would say they were both used as horse blanket pins.

http://www.google.com/patents/US2598...598198&f=false

[npbb4]

the top pictures or part of mule harness to hook to a plow, or horse look under impliments in old catlogs I think you will find them. the safety pins with numbers was used at swimming pools. when you when swimming and got a locker they gave you a safety pin with number to match your locker and lock up your clothes and pin the safety pin to your bathing suite and you would not forget your locker number.

[Gecko]

These are harness hames not handles see link.

Cheers
http://www.thinds.com/jmh/literary/yardsaleitems.htm


Duh. just posted and then scrolled down and saw the posts by TN Gizmo and npbb4.

[mick56]

Our old public pool used pins like that as stated.

[stefen]

Horse diapers

[GpSnoopy]

The others have ID'd the draft/mule harness hames already and I totally agree with them.

Researching the pins, I found similar types used for a variety of purposes. Locker pins, used for mining, schools, swimming pools, bags, etc. One site had them listed as

Old brass/nickel heavy duty blanket pin. Great for pinning together coolers, blankets, leg wraps & anything else that needs a quick fix. Size varies from 4 1/4”-4 1/2”+ & a couple are stamped with numbers on the head

.

Still available today in sizes up to 5" long. One wholesaler calls them Laundry Net Pins
http://www.safetypins.com/laundry-net_pins.htm

So, depending on what they were used for, they go under different names, but in the end, they are large safety pins. Unmarked may be blanket, laundry, bag, leather , or just plain safety pins. Marked may be laundry, locker, Id pins, etc.