I am having a hard time figuring out what this is. My friend is an avid user of treasurenet and suggested I try here. Will provide as much detail as possible but please feel free to throw any other questions at me.
I bought a storage unit at auction. In it, I found some 1940s-50s era tools (table saw, jointer/planer). I also found a box of these. There are 14 in total - different colors/finishes, but all the same size. 6" tall x 4" wide at top of Vee and 2.5 " at bottom of base. Think: fits in hand.
All of them have been marked with:
MADE BY
AL ROWLAND
OAKLAND CAL.
1963
Three of them have a mark on front or back of base that says reverse side: CALAMITY JANE
I presume they are hand-marked with a punch of some sort because the spacing between letters are different on each item, and the spacing is not quite the same on any 2 items.
In order to read the lettering, the item must stand on base with V shape pointing up - like the letter V :-) As such, I refer to the rectangular shape as the "base" and the top part as the Vee.
They are made of a hard wood and are quite sturdy. The pegs in the Vee are certainly grippable. They almost feel like they would be handles on a ship's steering wheel. Some of them have ridges which improves the grip. Or imagine one of those metal spring wrist/forearm exercisers, only you can't squeeze/move the pieces.
Each end of the Vee has a either a wooden or vinyl/plastic cap on the end - but different colors. The white ones are plastic, the black one is wood and actually has some kind of thin black veneer.
Each base has 2 or 3 small screw holes on the sides which go all the way through to the other side. They are 1/8" in diameter. One of these items has short brass screws inserted into these holes, but the screws are not put in all the way - nor do they go all the way through - perhaps to affix something to them?
Each base has a well drilled 1/2" diameter hole vertically through the middle - presumably to attach them to something. It is of course viewable from top or bottom of base.
The top of each base also has 2 small screw holes on the each side of the hole. They are small, about 1/32" in diameter and in general are not perfectly aligned on either side of the big hole.
General consensus among folks I have showed them to is that the item had some kind of industrial use. "Furniture leg" theories have been discussed, but those who have looked at it tend to dismiss those because (a) all the screw holes (b) brass screws (c) would not be to able to read maker since you would have to sit on furniture and lean over to read it "right side up" (d) who would put makers mark on furniture leg. Some thing possible maritime usages. Just trying to share ideas bounced around so far,
Thanks in advance for any suggestions/ideas.
I bought a storage unit at auction. In it, I found some 1940s-50s era tools (table saw, jointer/planer). I also found a box of these. There are 14 in total - different colors/finishes, but all the same size. 6" tall x 4" wide at top of Vee and 2.5 " at bottom of base. Think: fits in hand.
All of them have been marked with:
MADE BY
AL ROWLAND
OAKLAND CAL.
1963
Three of them have a mark on front or back of base that says reverse side: CALAMITY JANE
I presume they are hand-marked with a punch of some sort because the spacing between letters are different on each item, and the spacing is not quite the same on any 2 items.
In order to read the lettering, the item must stand on base with V shape pointing up - like the letter V :-) As such, I refer to the rectangular shape as the "base" and the top part as the Vee.
They are made of a hard wood and are quite sturdy. The pegs in the Vee are certainly grippable. They almost feel like they would be handles on a ship's steering wheel. Some of them have ridges which improves the grip. Or imagine one of those metal spring wrist/forearm exercisers, only you can't squeeze/move the pieces.
Each end of the Vee has a either a wooden or vinyl/plastic cap on the end - but different colors. The white ones are plastic, the black one is wood and actually has some kind of thin black veneer.
Each base has 2 or 3 small screw holes on the sides which go all the way through to the other side. They are 1/8" in diameter. One of these items has short brass screws inserted into these holes, but the screws are not put in all the way - nor do they go all the way through - perhaps to affix something to them?
Each base has a well drilled 1/2" diameter hole vertically through the middle - presumably to attach them to something. It is of course viewable from top or bottom of base.
The top of each base also has 2 small screw holes on the each side of the hole. They are small, about 1/32" in diameter and in general are not perfectly aligned on either side of the big hole.
General consensus among folks I have showed them to is that the item had some kind of industrial use. "Furniture leg" theories have been discussed, but those who have looked at it tend to dismiss those because (a) all the screw holes (b) brass screws (c) would not be to able to read maker since you would have to sit on furniture and lean over to read it "right side up" (d) who would put makers mark on furniture leg. Some thing possible maritime usages. Just trying to share ideas bounced around so far,
Thanks in advance for any suggestions/ideas.
Breezie
Many garage inventions never got as far as a patent pending.
You must be the genius everyone says you are. Put a cane or pipe in the center and try it out. 
It would explain the upside down lettering. 
