Posted 5 years ago
Ted_Straub
(993 items)
While cleaning up an attic in an older home, I discovered these two vintage pieces.
The first seems to be some type of valve. Rotating its handle, a long piece of semicircular metal is raised or lowered. The metal rods on either end of the holder are about 82 inches (approx 208Cm) in length. A number 14 is stamped on the backside of each metal rod.
The entire object appears to be made of brass...
Can anyone reveal what this item is, and what its purpose was? Thank you!
The second item is a door hinge set. I had found two of these identical sets in the attic. One has a "Chicago" maker's mark imprinted, along with a trademark on its reverse, while the second has no maker's mark, but features a trademark in the form of a keystone.
Both hinge sets are elaborate steel or iron creations, and were apparently originally plated with copper. Along with these were found a number of hinge nails, which resemble oversized horseshoe nails in design, but not in size.
Any help with descriptions and values of these vintage items would be appreciated! Thank you!!!!!
Thank you, fort, AO and stuff!
I'd guess the first item is some kind of latch mechanism for a cabinet door or window or something similar instead, where turning the handle would move the rod(s) to engage with a hole/etc to fasten it closed...???
Thanks, AO...but the rods' length and short extension distance might rule that out, though...thank you for your input, which is truly appreciated!
Thank you, Jenni!!!!
Ted, how do the rods move in relation to each other when the handle is turned? I'm guessing (only) with my suggestion that they would actually go in opposite directions, overall making the whole assembly itself become a little longer or shorter when the handle is turned. If in fact they just move back and forth together...well...nevermind... ;-) ;-) :-) :-)
Te firs is an interior lock for a french door. These are still being made, yours is vintage.
The hinge looks like it would be double acting, for say, a cafe door. Or possibly for a folding privacy screen/room divider, the exact term escapes me at the moment. Dressing screen? Regards, Lou
Thank you, all for your loves of and comments on these items. One never knows what will turn up in old buildings!!!!!!
Hello, Ted. The copper plating may have been used to bond another plating. The copper would have a better bond to the steel, and the plating that would show would have a better bond to the copper. Common practice on plated wrenches, sockets, etc,
Thanks, everyone, for your loves and for your input on this item..
We never stop learning!