It is an iron object with a wooden handle about 16 inches in length. Both horizontal and vertical iron cross pieces have a saw-tooth edge, and the front piece has two prongs, as you can see below:
A close look at the widest saw-tooth piece reveals letters reading "PAT. SEP 20, 87." Here are a couple of close-ups of the lettered piece:
A quick hint: this object's name describes its function.
As always, post your guesses in the comments section below or on our Facebook page. Stay warm and dry out there tonight!
Based on what appears to be a ratcheting bar that extends the 2 prongs forward, or brings them closer to the saw bladed arm behind it, I'm guessing that the tool either stretches something or pries two things apart. Since the points on the blade face forward, the tool was more likely used to stretch something by digging the saw bladed points into something, then putting the prong end just in front of the saw bladed bar, then using the handle to ratchet the prongs forward, stretching the something wider. Now, just need to figure out what could be stretched back in 1887.
ReplyDeleteGood reasoning, Carol! You are absolutely on the right track!
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