What the Heck is This Object?

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I found this long thin brass relic on a c.1830 farm site in 2012 and I've never been able to find out anything about it.
It has the marks W.B. PATENT JAN. 18. 1892, stamped on the top.

It looks to have a silver wash or plating and has decorative flowers soldered to the bottom, so I think it was meant to be seen.

It measures 7" x 4", any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Dave

 

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[Subterranean]

Rim of a photo frame? Meant to be hung with the "U" down, having the little spurs on the legs to hang on the wire? Sub

 

[sutphin]

ANTIQUE IS THAT SOME TYPE OF A MEMORIAL MARKER FOR A GRAVE.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Rim of a photo frame? Meant to be hung with the "U" down, having the little spurs on the legs to hang on the wire? Sub

That's an interesting idea, but I feel the metal is much too thin to support any kind of weight.
I'm thinking it was more of a decorative piece that was attached to leather or possibly wood for some purpose?

Thanks,
Dave

ANTIQUE IS THAT SOME TYPE OF A MEMORIAL MARKER FOR A GRAVE.

I found this in the front yard of a farmhouse, so I somehow doubt that this came from a cemetery?
Thank you for your suggestion sutphin!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is a good What Is It

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Many patents on that date. https://www.google.com/search?tbm=p...patent+"+jan.+18.+1892"&hl=en&tbm=pts&start=0

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Many patents on that date. https://www.google.com/search?tbm=p...patent+"+jan.+18.+1892"&hl=en&tbm=pts&start=0

Thanks very much for the link, interesting to see all those patents from the same date!
Dave

 

[ivan salis]

remember in the old days...many poor folks were often buried upon their farm homesteads --in family plots to avoid having to buy a plot of land --since they owned the farmland already

 

[villagenut]

Looks like some sort of sheet music holder that had a dowel type hinge pin at the base just below the two sheet holders are .Maybe for a piano?

 

[callmez]

Patents were issued weekly, and the issue date for that week would have been Jan. 19, 1892 (that's probably what your item says). I haven't had any luck trying to locate the patent, however. One way to do it is to look up the patent gazette for that time period and scroll through all the patents issued that same day. Just find Jan. 19th and start scrolling...
https://books.google.com/books?id=MIgoAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

W.B. could be the inventor's initials but it doesn't look much like 467,150, issued to William H. Bryant of Brooklyn NY (bottle-filling apparatus).

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

remember in the old days...many poor folks were often buried upon their farm homesteads --in family plots to avoid having to buy a plot of land --since they owned the farmland already

Thanks for the info Ivan. I have detected old properties before that had family plots where family members were buried, but I found this piece right in the front of the house in the yard.

Looks like some sort of sheet music holder that had a dowel type hinge pin at the base just below the two sheet holders are .Maybe for a piano?

This could certainly work VN, possibly something used to hold sheet music.
Thanks!

Patents were issued weekly, and the issue date for that week would have been Jan. 19, 1892 (that's probably what your item says). I haven't had any luck trying to locate the patent, however. One way to do it is to look up the patent gazette for that time period and scroll through all the patents issued that same day. Just find Jan. 19th and start scrolling...
https://books.google.com/books?id=MIgoAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

W.B. could be the inventor's initials but it doesn't look much like 467,150, issued to William H. Bryant of Brooklyn NY (bottle-filling apparatus).

You know what Z, I went back and took a closer look at this piece and the patent date is Jan. 19, 1892!
I'll go through the patent listings and let you know if anything shows up!

Thanks very much for making me look at it again,
Dave

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Well, I've just spent the last 20mins going through page after page of the books.google website without any luck!

Maybe someone else in the future will have better luck finding out what this item is than I did!

Thanks to everyone who posted!

Dave

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Well, I've just spent the last 20mins going through page after page of the books.google website without any luck!

Maybe someone else in the future will have better luck finding out what this item is than I did!

Thanks to everyone who posted!

Dave

I used to search patents with some success but the search is different now. Try searching using key words like music or W.B. along with the date. I will try for you too. This item should be solvable. And I agree its something decorative. Are we sure its 1892?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Could it be from a small file box?

 

[BIGSCOTT]

I think a sheet music holder also

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Are those the remains of rivets on the top?

 

[nhbenz]

Part of a clock frame? This includes the right patent date and similar shape: LOT #253 - Circa 1900 White Porcelain Antonio Mantle Clock
Perhaps they had a similar model on which the parts with the flowers was exposed, and thus why they are decorated?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I used to search patents with some success but the search is different now. Try searching using key words like music or W.B. along with the date. I will try for you too. This item should be solvable. And I agree its something decorative. Are we sure its 1892?

I wanted to thank you for the helpful information and support you've provided me here Ivan.

I went back and took another close look at the date and it's definitely 1892.
I did find a patent for Jan. 19 1892 for a page holder for a book, but it doesn't look anything like this piece. I'll post a pic of what this invention looks like.

Here's what the patent states;

A book-holder comprising a stiff flat spring adapted to be bowed, a single central finger projecting therefrom, and end fingers also projecting from the spring in the same direction as the central finger, all of the said fingers being rigid throughout, substantially as described. The object of this invention is to provide a device for holding open a book which is strong, easily applied, and admits of the ready turning of the leaves of the book without removing or displacing the holder. In attaining this object I have made use of a flat piece of spring metal, and to it have secured centrally and at right angles to its edge a rigid finger, which is designed to be placed upon the back of a book, there being a shorter rigid finger similarly disposed at each end of the spring to overlie the open pages and hold them down. I prefer to turn out the ends of these latter fingers for three purposes-namely, first, to admit of the ready application of the device to the leaves; second, to admit of the ready turning of the leaves, and, third, to add to the stiffness of the spring when applied with the turned-out portions against the leaves.

 

[Prairie Prowler]

I think this is an end/side support for a hand bag or carpet bag..leather or cloth riveted or attached w/prongs..just my 2 cents ..........

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I think a sheet music holder also

This is a possibility... but why can't I find a reference to this patent date for it?
Thanks!

Are those the remains of rivets on the top?

Let me recheck and I'll get back to you on this my friend... I'm just making my daughter her breakfast.

Part of a clock frame? This includes the right patent date and similar shape: LOT #253 - Circa 1900 White Porcelain Antonio Mantle Clock
Perhaps they had a similar model on which the parts with the flowers was exposed, and thus why they are decorated?

This is an interesting thought benz. I took a look at your link and saw the pic inside the porcelain clock and I can see what you're referring to.
Thanks very much for this,
Dave

I think this is an end/side support for a hand bag or carpet bag..leather or cloth riveted or attached w/prongs..just my 2 cents ..........

I can visualize what you're saying and can see how that might work... but why can't we find a reference to the patent?
Thanks for your input, I do appreciate it!

Dave