Posted 8 years ago
McAndrewh
(1 item)
Mystery item need your help
Some kind of tool.
Wooden handle, the rest is heavy metal. Small spear looks to have been able to pivot at one point in time.
Hoping for any info. Ie. How old, what it's used for and value today.
Soldering iron that was heated over a gas soldering pot.
Yes! thanks to your info I Googled some other images and I would agree. .....just havn't seen any with the pivoting spear on the sodering end like this one.
I've never seen one like this either. This example appears unused as it doesn't appear tined with solder on the tip.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/142207-plumbers-blow-torch
Here's what was generally used to heat these up.
My friend makes organ pipes and uses many different shapes of these copper soldering irons, when he solders the block tin pipes together, its a lost art almost. Natural gas burner and a rest to set the irons on with a valve to control the temp, he's 3rd generation in the family business.
soldering iron
https://www.etsy.com/listing/94882355/instant-collection-of-antique-soldering
That is a soldering iron, many people would shape them for a particular function. Did Sheetmetal work for years and still have some irons. Heated with natural gas or propane. If the end pivots, it may be loose. We used them for soldering downspouts and roof flashings and some shops still use them.