Found this and have no clue what it is..Need Help

[jhumbert40]

I found this on an old homestead dated back from the early 1800's.Had a name on it Henry Brooker I think the letter was a B Pat'd 1885 ..If any one can give me an Idea what I have found would be greatly appreciated....

 

[wagbert]

That is an interesting (and still unknown) item. Is it brass? 3" wide or what? It does look like a clip of some sort, and since found at a homestead site, may be garment related.
Good Luck!

 

[jhumbert40]

That is an interesting (and still unknown) item. Is it brass? 3" wide or what? It does look like a clip of some sort, and since found at a homestead site, may be garment related.
Good Luck!

Yes it is brass and about 3 inches...

 

[dr-quest]

Neat ? seen similar things that held a printed card/calling card/doctors name tag/ that sort of thing. Tucked up under those two tabs, maybe hung from a chain around the neck? Not for sure

 

[montcalm]

This is an interesting found but can't help with the id sorry.

 

[100MPG]

this probably doesn't help, but the name and date match.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brooker-57

 

[SD51]

They game out quite a few patents in 1885, from 310163 to 333493. Tried to search to find any reasonable description but no luck. It doesn't look like they put any part of the patent number on your item.

 

[100MPG]

 

[trapperart]

No help with ID but congrats on an interesting find

 

[Trezurehunter]

It could be an old note holder, like today's clip board. You would hang it on a wall with a little nail. The front is actually the part with the 2 clips, as the back has the patent info. You would put a piece of paper between the clips. Best idea I can come up with.

 

[jhumbert40]

Thanks for the info...I been trying to find some kind of info and been doing research and come up with nothing...I guess i can go with a Clip Board...

 

[Got_4by4]

Here is an idea to research.

Back in the day they had roll up blinds, A piece of material rolled around a usually wooden tube with a spring inside.
One of the main problems was that sometimes the ratchet would not catch and if you did not have a firm grasp of the lower edge, which usually was a wooden slat inserted into a looped hem, it would snap up sharply whirling itself around the shaft and loose the return tension. You would then have to re-tension the blind so that it would work properly. Sometimes there were cord pulls attached to the lower slat using a thumb tack.

So,..... I can see this as being attached to the slat and being held in place with pressure of the 2 formed tabs and also provide a hole with which to attach a cord.

But, I see the pointed shape as being a preventative measure to stop the slat from revolving around the shaft, therefore stopping the loss of tension. It was this feature that probably made it a patatentable design.

Just a thought that might help research.

 

[ironhorse]

Got 4by4 got me thinking
Top of a calendar was one thought, other was a pull down cord for a large roll up map(classroom style)
I'll check in to see where this ends up

 

[FiremanBill]

https://www.google.com/patents/US314436

This may help.

look at the picture in the top left corner.

The patent says it is a bookholder. It holds several books together similar to bookends.

 

[Peyton Manning]

my guess is
it was nailed to the front door for visitors to leave their calling card when you were not home

 

[jhumbert40]

https://www.google.com/patents/US314436

This may help.

look at the picture in the top left corner.

The patent says it is a bookholder. It holds several books together similar to bookends.

Thanks for the info...This is about as close to what it is....Thanks all who have chimed in to help much appreciated..