Postal ... wand?

[paulb104]

So here's another thing that we've been looking at from my father-in-law's never ending collection of antiques.

It's apparently brass. It comes apart into sections. It weighs 5.1oz, 147g.

Us taking it out of the house was probably the first time it's been in sunlight in thirty, maybe forty, years.

Now you know what I know.

 

[AlienLifeForm]

Neat, but I have no idea what the heck it would be used for.

 

[paulb104]

Neat, but I have no idea what the heck it would be used for.

....aaaaaaand that's about the description for eighty percent of the stuff that we have to identify!

 

[flinthunter]

Well, it's a carrier pigeon. That would be a good place to start your research. Was your father-in-law in the signal corps during either of the world wars by any chance?

 

[paulb104]

He was an antiques collector. There was no end to his interests. I have to remember to include that when I write these posts!

 

[cudamark]

Paperweight?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Going to have to go with Jesuit Treasure Wand.

Seriously, that one is a great . . . something. I tried possibilities like a letter creaser or stamp moistener and came up with nuttin.

Assuming the pigeon keeps it from rolling the paperweight idea maybe, or maybe even a "pen rest" for a desktop. But it's way too long for that.

Any know of any special carrier-pigeon accouterments? Pigeon leg band sizing thinghy?

 

[paulb104]

I had contacted a homing pigeon expert (there's a bunch out there) and he didn't think it was related to his field but that it might be an invitation, not a letter, so it might be wedding related.

With that in mind I found a sort of victorian wedding museum in California and emailed them about it.

 

[mojjax]

Looks like a parade wand .Very Nice !

 

[cw0909]

messenger pigeons were used in ww1 & 2, maybe it was used, in
a victory parade, maybe in europe

 

[paulb104]

Looks like a parade wand .Very Nice !

Wouldn't a parade wand be more of a baton size, like maybe two or three feet, so it can be seen by the masses from a distance?

 

[Loco-Digger]

Looks like a parade wand .Very Nice !

a 7 inch parade wand?

 

[paulb104]

a 7 inch parade wand?

That's what I was thinking!

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Well, a pigeon's not a very large bird.

 

[paulb104]

Well, a pigeon's not a very large bird.

No, but they're great roasted!
How to Roast a Whole Pigeon - Great British Chefs

 

[DCMatt]

I looked at this for a while. Another tough one...

I did find this on eBay:



These seem to be similar items but apparently the seller didn't know what they were either.

 

[DCMatt]

Sry. Not eBay.

Writing Instruments & Accessories - Old glass cutters, caliper, swizzle stick, plump bob was sold for R71.00 on 22 Jul at 21:02 by Antiquetrader in Cape Town (ID:193874178)

 

[paulb104]

I looked at this for a while. Another tough one...

These seem to be similar items but apparently the seller didn't know what they were either.

Why is it you think the seller didn't know what they are? It's in the title and description "Victorian glass cutters, brass calipers, brass plumb bob, expanding swizzle stick and thickness measures with old tin."

 

[DCMatt]

Why is it you think the seller didn't know what they are? It's in the title and description "Victorian glass cutters, brass calipers, brass plumb bob, expanding swizzle stick and thickness measures with old tin."

Then which is it?

 

[paulb104]

The plumb bob is on top.

Left to right: calipers, glass cutter, glass cutter, swizzle stick, something odd, thickness measurer.

The last item reminds me of the device used to measure thickness in spark plugs, currently called a feeler gauge I think.

I'm curious as to what the second to right item is. Maybe some sort of depth gauge?