Posted 10 years ago
Tialys
(1 item)
I bought this lovely wooden item at a flea market here in France because it is so attractive. I know - or I think I know - it is a press of some sort.
I know it’s not a press for vintage soda siphons but it was the nearest thing on hand to prop the bar up with. The slider bar moves up and down the grooved interior and the screw can push the bar down to a maxium of 25cm or 10 inches leaving a final squishing space of 23cm or 9 inches.
The nearest thing to it I have found on the internet is a press for playing cards. Apparently, it was used by dealers in casinos when the decks of cards got a bit scrunched and the press would be used to straighten them out. However, it was much smaller than this one and there were dividers in between the bar and the end so each card could slot in individually.
This one measures 56cm or 21.5 inches in length and 18cm or 7 inches wide. It is 5cm or 2 inches deep. The interior width, inside the grooves where the object(s) would need to sit, is 12.6cm or 5 inches.
It is very well made and was obviously well used. Somebody has seen fit to repair or reinforce the top corners at one time with metal but this has also been done well.
I've posted photos of it on my blog to see if anybody had any ideas what it is and somebody suggested posting it here.
Nice idea Riply, normally I uncork them but sombody must cork them for me!
I don't think this would be practical for corking wine bottles. I think corks are usually put in with a different sort of tool - like this https://www.etsy.com/listing/185963910/vintage-french-wine-bottle-corkercork?ref=market and once the cork is in, it's in and wouldn't need any further pressure. Also, the tray is too shallow for a wine bottle to be stable.
I have asked for help on my blog also and somebody has suggested it might be a hand made form of wagon vise. Would that be a possibility?
I wonder if you could post a picture of the bottom side? Are the screw threads threaded wood? Looking at the very bottom of picture #2 there appears to be a thin piece of wood in a slot. Does that slide up and out? Thanks.
It's dark here now but I'll try to get another couple of photos in the morning. Thanks for your interest.
Hello again fhrjr2. I've taken a close up of the bottom of the item (above) where the thin piece of wood you mention is. It is actually jointed in, so fixed. I did take another couple of photos but am only allowed 4 photos in all I think. However, the large screw coming down the centre of the press is all made from wood. The back of the item is just plain wood with 6 nails up each side and 4 along the top and bottom affixing it to the front. I hope this answers your questions and helps a bit.