Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: bird on July 10, 2016, 12:27:24 PM

Title: help!
Post by: bird on July 10, 2016, 12:27:24 PM
bird's back with lots of questions!!! when in doubt call it a nutcracker..... anyone know what this one is?
Title: Re: help!
Post by: lptools on July 10, 2016, 02:58:23 PM
Looks like a nut cracker, I  believe Sargent made one.
Title: Re: help!
Post by: mikeswrenches on July 10, 2016, 03:34:50 PM
Nutcracker

Mike
Title: Re: help!
Post by: bill300d on July 10, 2016, 03:46:00 PM
Yup. Found it in an 1870's catalog.
Title: Re: help!
Post by: international3414 on July 10, 2016, 04:20:26 PM
i sold one like that,quite some time ago,found it to be a cork shaping tool :undecided:
Title: Re: help!
Post by: mikeswrenches on July 10, 2016, 09:06:36 PM
It seems like there has always been some controversy over whether they were nut crackers or cork squeezers.

They were patented as nut crackers but could be used for whatever you want.  A cork squeezer actually rolls and tapers the cork so it would go in the bottle easier. I have a really crappy one made of aluminum. A really nice one I saw was made of cast iron and jappened with pin stripe accents.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/474x/46/cd/f5/46cdf5d39d5368dd414c20f61cae0fb2.jpg

You can't see it in the picture, but both surfaces are ribbed and tapered.

Mike
Title: Re: help!
Post by: turnnut on July 10, 2016, 09:27:37 PM
 I have always used mine as a nut cracker.  it is also mounted just like Birds.

 I have seen a few of the cork squeezers like Mike showed at auctions in the past, and they never went cheap.



Title: Re: help!
Post by: bill300d on July 10, 2016, 09:30:52 PM
1874 Sargent catalog nut cracker and cork press pics
Title: Re: help!
Post by: turnnut on July 10, 2016, 10:04:40 PM
 Bill300,  that picture of the cork press reminds me of some years back at an auction, there was one
 on that style,  the auctioneer kept calling it a cigar press.

 yes, thru the years we have heard many misleading ID's of items put up on the block.
Title: Re: help!
Post by: Northwoods on July 10, 2016, 10:43:19 PM
I recall an auctioneer from years ago who referred to all such devices as camel castrators.  ;-)
Title: Re: help!
Post by: Lewill2 on July 11, 2016, 05:59:25 AM
Auctioneers are like car salesmen they will say anything to make a buck.
Title: Re: help!
Post by: bill300d on July 11, 2016, 05:40:39 PM
Bill300,  that picture of the cork press reminds me of some years back at an auction, there was one
 on that style,  the auctioneer kept calling it a cigar press.

 yes, thru the years we have heard many misleading ID's of items put up on the block.
Unfortunately for the ill informed it usually works. Now don't get me wrong, i have purchased things that I did not know what they were but just the same intrigued me but I will not pay much for them.
Title: Re: help!
Post by: turnnut on July 11, 2016, 09:00:39 PM
 same here Bill,  thru the years I would pick up what we called "whatsit's"  where none of us could come up with a reason for its being.

 it is good mind exercise.   I have had items that took a long time to ID, did not tag it, a year or two later would find it in the garage
or shed, stare at it and lo and behold, "what was that for"    and to this day, I still do not tag anything.
Title: Re: help!
Post by: Plyerman on July 11, 2016, 09:29:28 PM
I like how the catalog refers to them as Nut Cracks :grin:
Title: Re: help!
Post by: bird on July 12, 2016, 05:02:29 AM
When I went to pay for  it (2.00 $), the guy asked me, "what is this thing, I've been curious? "
"I have no idea, that's why I have to have it !!!!" The jaws on this don't move closer together, like a pair of pliers or standard nut crackers these days... I'm not sure how it would help to Crack a nut... need to look at that catalog closer:)
Cheers
Bird
Title: Re: help!
Post by: Lewill2 on July 12, 2016, 05:54:17 AM
That is the idea, you want to crack the nut not smash the crap out of it.   :grin:
Title: Re: help!
Post by: Twertsy on July 12, 2016, 07:15:11 AM
That is the idea, you want to crack the nut not smash the crap out of it.   :grin:

I thought the idea was to GET the crap out of it.......... :grin:
Title: Re: help!
Post by: turnnut on July 12, 2016, 10:26:47 AM
 come on Bird, but a mixture of nuts and play with that cracker.

 if the jaws closed too tight, it would crush the nut meat.  you just want to crack them.
Title: Re: help!
Post by: bird on July 15, 2016, 01:08:27 PM
I don't like nuts, except pistachios. BOY that was a loaded statement.... true in a lot of ways . HA! When I bought this from my friend, I said, "I'll have to ask my boys, they'll know what it is. "
"what boys?"
"wouldn't you like to know? I have lots of them!"
thanks, boys :)
Title: Re: help!
Post by: turnnut on July 15, 2016, 02:34:20 PM
 Hi Bird,   I also like pistachios, you sometimes find that you can not split them easy, that is when you use that nut cracker,
 just put them in endways and use very light pressure.  you will find that you will use it more often.

 " HAPPY CRACKING "