Posted 13 years ago
ThriftyGypsy
(103 items)
I found this item a while back while going through a box of stuff I had received from my wife's late grandfather's estate. I recently "found" it again. I have always considered it to be a bottle opener, but I have reason to believe that it may be something else. There are no wear marks that would indicate that it had ever removed any bottle tops. It is starting to look like some type of gage or measuring device. He ran a gas station during the 40's and 50's, and I am wondering if it had some gas station related use. I am hoping some of my fellow collector's can tell me what this is. Thanks for looking, ThriftyGypsy
It kind of looks like a tool to punch holes in the top of oil cans, just a guess.
It's a bottle opener, (JFO # N-2), DESIGNED BY OSCAR GALTER,
DESIGN PATENT NO. 153,349 (04/12/1949).
Patent site is;
http://www.google.com/patents?id=LVRwAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=153,349&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ULtPT5fUF-ri0gHK593NDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=153%2C349&f=false
Hope this helps,
Lumpy
This opener was only used by one beer company, Dixie Brewing, New Orleans, LA. Blank openers can be found, but they are few and far between, Dixie openers are even harder to find. Dixie's have a value between $10 - $25, so a blank would be on the low end.
Lumpy
Bring back the days when everyone had a church key hanging on the rear view mirror. Although in a pinch the door latch on a 1950 ford was a perfect bottle opener. Brings back memories of bonfires and bobby socks.
Thanks for the information packrat-place, I have not considered that before now. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting, Thanks, ThriftyGypsy
Hey Lumpy, You are the man! You have definitely solved this mystery. I really appreciate the research you did on this, and the time that you put in on it. It is also really interesting to know that it was used by only one beer company, in New Orleans. La. I am still trying to figure out how it got up here to North Carolina ! Anyway, I knew that one of the "experts" on here would know where to look for this information. Thanks again for your help, Thrifty Gypsy
Thanks fhrjr2 for the comments. I definitely remember the old church keys, it seems like some people get lost when you call them that today. I have about 10-15, and they are still pretty cool items to me ! T.G.
my dad give me one of these today is has "Drink Dixie Beer "on my's so i'm thinking it's a bottle opener
Thanks tom61375 for the love. T.G.