✅ SOLVED Test your skills on this one! Spent years trying to ID this.

[musclecar]

I found this in Alaska about 10 years ago, and have never been able to ID it. It is an aluminum piece, about 3 inches square. It has 15 teeth and is numbered 1-15. There is a stop preventing it from spinning freely. The back has two tabs that may have been used to mount it. ANY GUESSES?

Thanks,

MC

PS The quarter used for size was found yesterday! 1935S Yeah!

 

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[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I'm still cleaning out the storage shed, and getting rid of all of my chicken plucking stuff, but I just got an e-mail from my brother who said he was getting some interesting hits earlier while patent searching ...

"Score Keeping Device"

But, like me, he doesn't have time today to check it out and wants to pass it on to anyone who might be interested. He said he only scratched the surface. I haven't even looked at it myself, but trust in my brother's judgement. But don't quote me on that, just in case it flops!

BOB

 

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[Bramblefind]

I was hoping to get some additional information on Google Books but the 2 things that look interesting are only available as "snippet" view. They are a 1956 issue of the Poultry Tribune and a book called "Keeping Chickens in Cages" by Roland C. Hartman (1953 edition) - I tried to trick it into giving up some information via using certain search terms. Here is what I have from the Hartman book (the last snippet is from page 120):

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I can't stand it if I don't post something every five minutes! This time I would like to do another summary of sorts. I think (hope) at this point that most of us agree on at least a couple of them. And its not all conjecture either - recent evidence supports certain aspects of the following ...

The Item ...

1. Is a manual counting/tallying device.

2. Mounts to a wire cage.

3. Has features that suggest it was invented in the 1940s - 50s.

4. Has 14 numbers on it that suggest a two week time period.

5. Is inexpensively made, suggesting something other than technical importance.

~ * ~

I realize there is nothing here we don't already know (suspect), and I only point them out now to refresh our memories with the hope someone may pick up on a clue of some kind. All things considered, it is my opinion there is but one missing word here, which will eventually connect all of the dots. And I would like nothing more than for that single word to be ...

"Egg"

But ... If it is a "Manually operated, aluminum, cage mounted, egg tallying device from the 1950s," then why in the blazes can't we find a reference/image of one? Does this suggest it's something else? I guess only the test of time will answer this. I realize this is not a vote, but based on the current evidence I honestly believe we have identified it ... but unfortunately we need a PHOTO to prove it.

Thanks, I feel better now.



BOB

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I also think its a poultry egg counter and Bramblefind found the closest match. When I took this item in my hand and clipped it to the cage type wire fence, I was convinced. It clips on the cage just too good, it must be cage/fence related. It fit so tight the bottom bend up tabs were not needed. Unfortunately the part with the manufacturers name is most likely broken or cut off. I believe the missing part to be simply a generic type clip.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

There may be a slight crack in our egg ...

At least, according to my dad there is. As most of you know by now, my dad grew up on a chicken ranch during the 1920s-30s until he was twenty years old. And my uncle had it for another twenty-plus years after that. Anyway, dad says the 14/15 numbers are most likely not related to egg counting, but rather are connected in some way to keeping track of vaccinations - feeding - etc., etc., that would tie in with a two week time period, with the offset 15 indicating the process had reached it's end or was started over again. In his opinion there is just nothing about the numers 14/15 that makes the least bit of since involving the counting of egg production. He also added that if the dial had 1 thru 0, 1 thru 20/30, or some other higher combination of numbers like those we've seen on other inventions, then he felt we were on the right track. But he suggested that I and others to take a closer look at the two week vaccination idea and see if anything turned up.

The only reason I haven't done this already is because I need the support and help of others to investigate this. The more eyes we have looking, and fingers clicking the sooner we'll have some answers to this puzzle. I don't know yet if dad is right or wrong, but I intend to take a look into it and see what I can find. Okay, dad - here goes nothing ... or everything!

And yes, dad read Bramblefind's snippets. He interprets them differently.

Personally, I still think it's an egg counter.

Thanks again,

Bob and Roy

P.S. Here's a photo of my dad and his dog Prince on the ranch in 1934 - Age 12

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Why cant you count eggs for a two week period? BTW the counter never reaches #15.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

BigCy ~

This is my dad's opinion. About all I can add to try and answer your question is that this is my dad's recollection, saying all of the egg tallying stuff he remembers was usually based on monthly/yearly records - not weekly. But he does remember with thousands of chickens there were always a bunch of them that needed vaccinations, special feed, or something. He remembers keeping track of that kind of stuff, but they didn't have finger wheels to use, and had to write everything down with pencil and paper. But it may be worth taking a look at. Personally, I still think it's an egg counter! (Seriously).

Thanks,

Bob

P.S. My dad wanted to add, with all due respect, that even though the pointer doesn't go to the 15, the 15 is still there for some reason.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BigCy ~

This is my dad's opinion. About all I can add to try and answer your question is that this is my dad's recollection, saying all of the egg tallying stuff he remembers was usually based on monthly/yearly records - not weekly. But he does remember with thousands of chickens there were always a bunch of them that needed vaccinations, special feed, or something. He remembers keeping track of that kind of stuff, but they didn't have finger wheels to use, and had to write everything down with pencil and paper. But it may be worth taking a look at. Personally, I still think it's an egg counter! (Seriously).

Thanks,

Bob

P.S. My dad wanted to add, with all due respect, that even though the pointer doesn't go to the 15, the 15 is still there for some reason.

I went back and reread your prior post and yes I agree with your Dad that the process most likely has reached its end at 15 and needs to start over again. It however IMO could just be a number that may rarely be reached. Maybe Im way off but is it possible for a hen on a rare occasion to lay 15 eggs in 2 weeks?

Your Dad indeed has much experience in poultry raising but I am still hoping a 2 week egg counter could be a possibility.

Any luck on the vaccination angle?

 

[IronSpike]

I think it was mentioned here earlier that some times the actual piece would differ slightly from patent drawings. Bramblefind's patent is so very close and all the findings now seem to add up.

Maybe we'll find an advertisement for it, but doubt many actual pieces have survived (most likely scrapped/recycled with the metal cages). Other than patents we haven't been able to find any of the old egg counters

Poultry history is well documented and there has to be a confirmatory ID out there somewhere

Interesting inventions in poultry. Check out this one

http://www.nationalband.com/nbtcohis.htm

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Are you reading this BOB? 8) Go back and look at Bramblefinds patent egg counter. Even though it has 2 wheels, I dont think it can count an entire month. Am I correct or not?

I think it counts to 19. Is that a months output?

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

BigCy ~ Nothing yet on the vaccination theory.

IronSpike ~ I thought the poultry (sucking them out of the barn and depositing them into a transport truck with a huge vacuum invention - Patent # 3,706,300) was crazy. But your chicken "glasses" are downright Twilight Zone!

~ * ~

If I can explain the following properly, it may be of some help.

Dad pointed out that it was unheard of to have only one chicken per cage,(at least during the 1930s when the chickens ran around loose in large barns/houses), and later when cages were introduced, this number was at least ten or more per cage. Thus, the complication of being able to determine and keep track of which chicken laid which egg and how many. Of course, a couple of the inventions we've seen are counting devices that attached directly to the wing, but I for one still don't quite understand how those devices worked, other than to say they are probably not the item we are looking for.

I will confirm this next part with my dad later, but I believe he said the ranch he grew up on averaged about 5 thousand chickens. Which would be considered small by today's standards, but certainly adequate enough to support a family of five throughout the depression without hardship. He said their method of keeping track of an individual chicken's egg laying production involved removing it from the cage and isolating it in a seperate cage by itself. He can't recall how often they did this, nor exactly how long the chicken was isolated, but he does recall that in their particular case everything was recorded on paper, and not by means of any kind of counting device. But he admits the possibility that they were behind the times, or else these counting devices hadn't been invented yet.

In any event, he still believes the item in question is related to a "day/week" count, and not an "egg" count. And that it possibly may be the vaccination tracker he mentioned earlier, or an isolation tracker as just discussed. As for myself, I'm more confused than ever! I like both the egg counting idea, as well as the day counting idea. But, unfortunately, I cannot prove either one.

I hope this helps, and thank everyone on behalf of my dad who, I'm pleased to say, has taken a real interest in this topic. As soon as someone said "chicken," his ears perked up. Remember, he's 88 years old, not in the best of health, and spends about the same amount of time stuck in his reclining chair as I do in my office chair. I'm glad to see him get involved with something other than television.

Thanks again to all ~

Bob

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Your Dads poultry raising expertise is a welcome addition.

It seems possible to me that individual chickens could be isolated for 2 weeks at a time to check their production.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

BigCy ~

Dad says ... "Thanks!" (And so do I).

I forgot to mention that this isolation process wasn't just one chicken at a time, but was "dozens/hundreds" at a time. But still in the same laying house, only segregated from the others. Plus, every chicken was banded with an individual identification number.

On a personal note, I'm not sure of the proper wording for ...

" Chicken Isolation Tracking Device"

And let me be the first to say, despite this so called "new evidence," the current Patent findings still point to "egg counter." And dad said he will concede his "guess" if no one finds a single bit of evidence to support his "day/week" counting device idea! (I think that's fair).



Bob

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

What type of 2 week vaccinations/special feed/medications do chickens need?

We can start a new thread- "All you ever wanted to know about chickens but were afraid to ask."

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

BigCy ~

Please note I'm no chicken expert. But if I may be allowed to kid with you for a moment ...

Where do you think "Chicken Pox" came from?

Seriously ... Dad said (and he's right here with me today) that chickens are notorious for contracting various bird diseases, and need vaccinations of one kind or another on a fairly regular basis, which sometimes involves special feeds. He also said that a happy and healthy chicken will lay more eggs. (I can't speak for everyone, but I seriously question the "happy" part).

I guess the only thing to do is more re-re-research and see what turns up.

Bob

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Bird flu. Im sure a happy and healthy hen lays more eggs. Sounds believable.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont mean to get off the subject but whoevers finds one of these Amusement Devices will never figure it out. Its the same finger advancement, one increment at a time, but check out the number sequences. I dont imagine this patented invention caught on.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I was looking at that when you posted it earlier, and it looks like some type of 1930s "Rubix Cube."

Which might be an appropriate title for this thread.

Bob

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I intended to mention this earlier, but I wanted to do some research on it first. Well, I've done some research, but unfortunately haven't found anything ... yet!

It involves what my dad insist is offically called a chicken/hen "Trapping Station."

He said his High School Ag Class (around 1937/39) was involved with this device, and that over time they had made some improvements on it. He said it was a nesting box of sorts where the hen would enter when ready to lay. He said the one they experimented with in school was made of light weight wood, but that later variations were likely made of aluminum or tin. But definitely something light weight. He said the way it worked, was that when the hen entered the "trapping station," a specially designed door with a "tigger" of some sort would automatically close, thus "trapping" the hen inside until a worker came along, recorded the egg count, and then released her back into the community cage. He said they didn't use these on the family farm, (too expensive), but that it was "definitely a patented invention."

Although he doesn't ever recall any kind of finger-wheel tallying device, he did say that maybe our item was in some way related to this trapping station. But so far I haven't found anything on it, nor am I sure exactly how it might be described under a patent design. Maybe someone else (Like our man BrambleFind) can find something on it.

Thanks again,

BODUNKBOB

 

[Bramblefind]

Bob - I think possibly the raising of chickens in individual cages was a concept that came about in the 1950s and might not have lasted much past that decade. I'm not sure though. But I do know that it was a practice to raise the chickens in individual cages at sometime and somewhere.

The patent itself reads:

At the present time cages are used within which hens are individually confined

Also - check this out-