Posted 7 years ago
randy9171
(1 item)
I have tried to do a thorough Google search on this kind of antique copper boiler, but I have failed to find any information. Can anyone help me out by providing some details about what exactly it was used for, what it might be technically called, and when they were used? Thank you so much for your help. Randy
How big is it, and are you certain it is a "boiler"?? Frankly, at first glance it reminds me of those pan things (I don't know what they're called?) often found by the sink at the end of the ice-cream-shop freezer case, where they keep the ice cream scoopers...??
I would say it is a steamer. The little vent on top is where the steam blows off. I have seen such items used for clams and lobster up on the New England coast. Might not be the original use but is what I saw them used for. Fancy ones had a faucet at the bottom to drain them when done.
On 2nd thought, but still in the ice-cream shop -- maybe more like the pans where they held the warm chocolate/etc syrup toppings...??
Thank you, Anything Obscure and fhrjr2, for your comments! The measurements are approximately 24" long, 14" wide, and 18" high. I can't imagine it being used for ice cream shop purposes and can only guess that it is some kind of boiler (purpose unknown) because it has that pipe coming out the top and looks similar to the very common copper laundry boilers people used to have maybe over 100 years ago.
Randy9171 I am 70 years old and remember my great grandmother and grandmother doing laundry out of copper tubs but this doesn't begin to come close. They didn't have hot water so the tub was filled early morning and left in the sun to heat the water. Saturday morning the other copper tub was set out and filled and that is where you took a bath so you were ready for church on Sunday morning.
Thanks for the add'l size info randy9171 -- definitely way too big for my 'ice cream shop' guess?!!
I think the hinge, handle and solder joints on this picture unfortunately only one picture would say it isn't terribly old.
I have no idea regarding it's use and age, so your guesses are as good as mine. Thank you, though, for the thoughts. Perhaps there is someone on this website who will recognize it for exactly what it is eventually. I know it is at least around 70 years old because that is when my family came into possession of it in New England.
Well randy9171 I was born and raised in New England 70 years ago and told you above how I saw them used up there. Maybe it was actually a foot bath.