jet66
09-14-13, 18:35
My parents are retired and decided on downsizing from a house to an apartment that's closer to their doctors, shopping, etc. My mom had a ton of stuff shipped to me, a lot of old and antique items that have been passed down several generations. So I'm unpacking antique dishes and find this... Thing. My mom and dad (both born in the mid '40s, for context) have no idea what it is. My dad was a career USAF guy, working on all kinds of electrical and electronic stuff, as well as being a pretty good mechanic across the board from small engines to large diesel power plants. All around, he's one of those guys with a ton of experiences with a ton of fields, so the idea that even he has no idea what it is surprised me. It belonged to my father's grandfather, and was in his old (otherwise mostly empty) wooden tool box. It may not even be a tool, as there was also a very old ice cream scoop in with it. Nobody in the family is alive that would know, and searches on the internet have been fruitless. There seems to be a wealth of experience here, so hopefully someone can shed some light on what it is.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff122/jet1966/WTF/fromside_zpsffb9df9b.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff122/jet1966/WTF/fromabove_zps4a31b0a3.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff122/jet1966/WTF/frombottom_zps4e2d1739.jpg
Description: Made of brass or some similar metal, about 8 1/2" tall, 3" in diameter at the widest part of the large cylindrical area. The opening through the center of the horn goes all the way through unobstructed, and the cylindrical area is thickly caked with what appears to be some hard ash/residue. It looks as if some substance was burned away from within, looking very much like a spent model rocket solid fuel motor. There is no real distinguishing smell, the ash can be chipped away fairly easily in chalk-like grey chunks. The larger opening at the end where you can see the ash is slightly angled wider, with a small lip where it may have sat on top of something else. There are no markings on it, as far as words, logos, etc. There is a small square (visible in the first picture, just above the cylindrical part) but I'm not sure if it was 'on purpose' or just incidental.
Background: Unfortunately, the 'rest of the story' is full of mysteries as well, leaving little clue as to where to begin looking for this thing. My great-grandfather had TB and committed suicide (maybe 1923, 1924) when my grandfather was pretty young, so no one really knows much about him, as far as what kind of work he did and such. I'd sure love to figure out what this thing is, if anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff122/jet1966/WTF/fromside_zpsffb9df9b.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff122/jet1966/WTF/fromabove_zps4a31b0a3.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff122/jet1966/WTF/frombottom_zps4e2d1739.jpg
Description: Made of brass or some similar metal, about 8 1/2" tall, 3" in diameter at the widest part of the large cylindrical area. The opening through the center of the horn goes all the way through unobstructed, and the cylindrical area is thickly caked with what appears to be some hard ash/residue. It looks as if some substance was burned away from within, looking very much like a spent model rocket solid fuel motor. There is no real distinguishing smell, the ash can be chipped away fairly easily in chalk-like grey chunks. The larger opening at the end where you can see the ash is slightly angled wider, with a small lip where it may have sat on top of something else. There are no markings on it, as far as words, logos, etc. There is a small square (visible in the first picture, just above the cylindrical part) but I'm not sure if it was 'on purpose' or just incidental.
Background: Unfortunately, the 'rest of the story' is full of mysteries as well, leaving little clue as to where to begin looking for this thing. My great-grandfather had TB and committed suicide (maybe 1923, 1924) when my grandfather was pretty young, so no one really knows much about him, as far as what kind of work he did and such. I'd sure love to figure out what this thing is, if anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated.