Posted 4 years ago
B72collect
(18 items)
I bought this at an antique mall in Cincinnati with no description and I have no idea what it is. Appears to be a glass squirrel mounted to a metal box. The inside of tbe box pushes out and it is spring loaded, but for what purpose? Anyone know?
Really nice pink glass squirrel topper, this is an interesting & unusual find
Another mystery. Another sleepless nite ! It can't be that hard to figure out !
Keep thinking it's a magic trick box? I dunno..would like to know what it is..
I think I'm getting closer to figuring it out. There is another metal flap that opens and it looks like a place to put a cap (like an old cap gun cap) and the spring loaded piece would slam into it once box is pushed open to scare someone.
I put a pic of the other metal flap opened.
Maybe a “coin disappearing” trick.....if you placed a coin on the metal flap, closed the box, would the coin fall into the box? Like a squirrel storing nuts for Winter, maybe?
Good thought on the coin, but no it wouldn't work that way, plus the round depressed area is smaller than a dime. I really think it is a detonator for a cap for a prank. On amazon they currently sell cap detonator mechanisms that look similar to this. I wish I could find more on the age and origin of this though.
How is the squirrel involved? Does it slide forward/backward to release the box to open? Or do you manually open the box yourself?
Squirrel is mounted and decorative only. Box must be pushed manually.
Would it snap on the finger of the curious when they pull it out ? I've seen something like that that said "Do Not Open". People can't resist.
This is keeping me awake!
Here’s a thought: I keep trying to relate something to the squirrel, so, if you placed a nut behind the flap and opened the drawer farther, is the spring-loaded part forceful enough to crack the nut?
This spring plate springs up or down. Not clear. I'm right there with you Watch !
I think b72 had it. Looks like a trick cap box. Heres a similar item...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Magic-Trick-CAP-LOAD-SNAP-TRICK-VULCAN-MATCH-BOX-WORKS-/264249304064
May I go to sleep now ?
Great!!! Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this! I do believe this is what it is and the benign seeming pink cute squirrel must just be a distraction to the impending surprise cap explosion.
Yes, time to rest now. :)