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Mystery Wheel

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    Posted 3 years ago

    Rattletrap
    (915 items)

    I saw this hanging on the wall in an old barn while we were Pickin today and thought it was very cool, but have no idea what it really is?
    Some sort of stencil contraption? It’s made of thin metal like tin. Any ideas?

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    Comments

    1. AnythingObscure AnythingObscure, 3 years ago
      That'd be my guess...? I agree it is WAY COOL, whatever it is!!
    2. Vynil33rpm Vynil33rpm, 3 years ago
      Difficult to judge the size by the picture
      is it a typewriter ball font for the Electric typewriter
    3. AnythingObscure AnythingObscure, 3 years ago
      I'm guessing the punched out letters are ~1" high ea., and they're in the typical font of antique shipping crates and industrial painted-on lettering for all kinds of signs and such . . . ??? :-) :-) :-)
    4. Rattletrap Rattletrap, 3 years ago
      AnythingObscure,
      Correct on the 1”letters.
    5. Vynil33rpm Vynil33rpm, 3 years ago
      Ok I see Now ,,I was way off ,,I thought it was round
      Like the letters on a Ball head Type writer
    6. Rattletrap Rattletrap, 3 years ago
      Valentino97,
      Nope, I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking for some info. It does look like it might be some sort of stencil maker contraption but who knows?
    7. AnythingObscure AnythingObscure, 3 years ago
      Its sorta hard to tell in the pic...does it show evidence of any kind of paint buildup around the letters, or where such has been (routinely?) cleaned off of it? I could imagine it as part of some further contraption used to add shipping numbers to crates for example, but don't know what that would necessarily be?
    8. MMNJ MMNJ, 3 years ago
      Looks like it is a stencil. Here’s one that’s cleaned up:

      https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-brass-circular-stencil-dated-469263555

      And some history:
      https://winehistoryproject.org/stencil-wheel/
    9. MMNJ MMNJ, 3 years ago
      One more link:
      https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE4402E/en
    10. MMNJ MMNJ, 3 years ago
      And for those who prefer not to follow links: it’s a stencil wheel used on wooden boxes, canvas bags, etc., invented by Eugene Tarbox, patented on August 11, 1868 (and renewed on May 30, 1871), and made by New York Stencil Works.
    11. Rattletrap Rattletrap, 3 years ago
      MJNJ,
      Thx for the update. You’ve assured me that I found a very old and cool item and now I even know what it is and was used for. Awesome!

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