Posted 6 years ago
UncleRon
(41 items)
This is probably so simple I'm missing it but the lettering, "Park-Aid / Pat.Pend," has me baffled. So, what kind of "park" - park the car? take your dog to the park? - a play on the word "parquet?" And what aid does this render? It is 17" long o/a and the head is made of cast aluminum. The tip of the middle finger (don't go there) is 5/8" above the outer fingertips. In the mean-time it makes a pretty good back-scratcher.
Looks like an eel spear. Neil
Probing for landmines when parking off road.
muckrake/cultivator
OK. So you guys don't know either. :-)
Maybe something used by a meter-maid/parking attendant/[insert current politically-correct term for that job, if it still exists?] to somehow mark vehicle tires to (further) indicate how long a vehicle has been left sitting somewhere??
Have a Google for eel spear and go on images and you will see what I mean. Neil
I am familiar with eel spears & gigs Collectibles59. This device is only 17 inches long and the points were made dull. I'll post a fourth pic.
Aha! The aspect of a little "hand," and the lanyard at the opposite end, just gave me an epiphany. I think it's an early version of a "ball launcher" used, like an atlatl, to throw tennis balls great distances for your dog to chase; hence the "Park-Aid." Even a short length of handle gives you a tremendous amount of leverage. New ones are plastic and have a more cupped end.
Garden tool,..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Park-Aid-Garden-Tool-Hand-Rake-Cultivator-Wood-Handle-Metal-Claw-18-Long/232859720613?hash=item3637855ba5%3Ag%3AuFsAAOSwYeNbHat7&_sacat=0&_nkw=+Park-Aid&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313
Thanks, Windwalker. That listing must have been made just after I searched for the item because I didn't get any returns for "Park Aid." I have written to the seller asking for his documentation. If it was called "Handy-Rake" or "Weed-Away" or something like that I might be sold but it would make a very poor rake/cultivator/weed removal tool. Ebayers, like auctioneers, take a look at something they can't identify and proclaim it to be the first thing that comes to mind. I'm waiting for proof such as an advertisement or, hopefully, the patent number.
Heard back from the ebay seller and he says he did no research and is basically guessing. Maybe someday someone will see one with a patent # or date. Until them I'll use it to probe for landmines when I'm off-road. :-)
I just found the ebay listing too
lol, you might want a longer handle.... '-)) good luck on you hunt .
You guys must not live in my neighbourhood. LOL !!
Perhaps used for temporary relief of hemoridal itch?
hemorrhoid itch
Ok, don't get grossed out: I just read an article on line called, "What Did Ancient Romans Do Without Toilet Paper", by Stephen E. Nash, 3 April , 2018 on Tersorium.
The article details, and I mean in great detail, with pictures of the ancient Roman communal toilets and their hand-held stick which held natural sponges for the purpose of butt wiping. :-)
It is a very interesting article explaining how our ancestors invented solutions to handle everyone's bodily functions.
And, by the way, the sticks with the sponges were not "one use items"; they were simply swished in water or vinegar and left for the next guy.
The same article explains that urine was not just discarded as waste; it was saved to be used in washing clothing because of it's high ammonia content.
Your stick with it's 3 prongs would work quite well for the Romans!
So after reading the article and seeing your stick, I believe it could have been used in personal hygiene, maybe to hold a sponge or cloth for washing hard to reach areas, if you know what I mean.
I'm not saying yours is ancient Roman--it looks too new for that, but maybe a modern day version.
It could be an early bath-aid item for a handicapped person to bathe or take care of personal hygiene in the bathroom independently, thus a wrist strap would come in handy to avoid dropping it.
Try it and let me know how it worked. ;-D
Back scratcher???
I've been using it for that Collectibles59, but it isn't very effective. The tines are not arced enough to do a good job
Picking up trash in the park.
Or ???
I also have one of these and trying to figure out what it is used for.