Is this guy a prospector?

turtlefoot13

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Aug 23, 2009
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Hi All,

I posted this image on the "What is it" board and was told that I might get some better results here.

I have a late 19th cuntury photograph of a man with a rifle, breakdown shotgun, what looks like a bedroll and a piece of luggage. It has been guessed as a cowboy or hunter going out to hunt or possibly a surveyor. Someone then noticed something behind the man. They said that they thought it looked like it could possibly be a home made rocker. If it is, this would fit into the right time period for the Klondike Gold Rush. I know nothing about vintage prospecting equipment. If anyone could give me any help, I would appreciate it.

Doug

forinspection.jpg

rocker.jpg
 

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turtlefoot13

turtlefoot13

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Aug 23, 2009
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spawn00x said:
Hard to tell by the pic. But it just might be a rocker box...
Thanks,

I appreciate the info. I'm really hoping that I can figure out for sure, one way or the other.

Doug
 

CharlieBitMe

Greenie
Apr 22, 2010
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Hard to tell from the pic. Even if it's a rocker box, it doesn't mean that it was his. I think I see a shovel on his back. I also don't see a horse. If I were a betting man, I'd say he worked on the railroads.
 

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turtlefoot13

turtlefoot13

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CharlieBitMe said:
Hard to tell from the pic. Even if it's a rocker box, it doesn't mean that it was his. I think I see a shovel on his back. I also don't see a horse. If I were a betting man, I'd say he worked on the railroads.

That would be more likely. There was a lot of railroad activity, including temporary logging lines in Missouri at this time. Thanks for the tip.

Doug
 

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turtlefoot13

turtlefoot13

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mrs.oroblanco

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I know this is an old post, but, I just thought I'd tell you what that "Steve McQueen looking" guy has in the second picture.

It's a skinner frame. Usually for animals like beaver. You put the creature on its back in the crossbucks - makes it a much less messy job.

(don't know what he is holding in the first picture).

B
 

knighthunter

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Dec 21, 2009
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I don't think it's a rocker box at all. Kinda looks to me like a type of sleigh/wagon for hauling firewood. Even looks like there is some firewood on it.
The guy doesn't look like no prospector either, don't look like a shovel on his back. Whatever it is I think is hanging on the wall behind him. Railroad worker possibly, man waiting for a stagecoach maybe. Seeing as how he seems to have a rifle, could be a market hunter.
 

Daedalus

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I would like to have the first scan of this photo and I could go in and rebuild it to were we could see it and know what we were looking at.
But I do not think I would find that file.
 

coazon de oro

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May 7, 2010
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Hello Turtlefoot,

Mrs. Oroblanco is the only one who nailed this one. It is a skinner frame. I live in south Texas where there is no gold, yet I have seen several of those in ranches and in the homes of die hard hunters and fur trappers.

Homar P. Olivarez
 

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