It sure does seem like there were a lot of different contraptions made back in the 1800's for lifting hot pots and stove lids. Here's my latest one. It is about 9" long, and is faintly marked PAT JUNE 2, 1885. Which means it is a "device for lifting kettles" invented by Lucius H. Goff of Richford, Vermont.

Wow.  Clearly, that designer had been looking at drawings of pteranodons and got inspired.

Quote from: Bill Houghton on May 15, 2016, 11:10:35 AM
Wow.  Clearly, that designer had been looking at drawings of pteranodons and got inspired.

Clearly!

2 different versions. One with the patent date the other unmarked.

Oh nice! I'll have to keep a watch out for that version on the left. I see it has a coil spring like the patent drawing, and that little projection sticking out at the back of the jaws.


Edit: and the jaws are pointed off at a slightly different angle too. Again, more like the patent drawing.

Les, are you assuming the one on the left is an "early" model, and the one on the right came along later?

I'm not sure, I guess the one with the coil spring would be the earlier one.

Several other somewhat related patents were issued on May 24, 1881 - 241,822 is another plier type tool and then there is the William Thayer patented trivet & lid lifter combination tool patent 241,893, I have a few of the Thayer type tools one that has a wood handle.

Quote from: Lewill2 on May 16, 2016, 05:47:42 AM
I'm not sure, I guess the one with the coil spring would be the earlier one.

Several other somewhat related patents were issued on May 24, 1881 - 241,822 is another plier type tool and then there is the William Thayer patented trivet & lid lifter combination tool patent 241,893, I have a few of the Thayer type tools one that has a wood handle.

Been watching the Thayer tools come and go for awhile now, biding my time. (Judging by how many of them are still around today, they must have sold a bunch of them back in the day??)  Anyhow, last month one finally came along when I had money in my pocket. Not sure if all of them have it, but on mine you can barely see "1881" marked along the tenderizer teeth:







One with a wooden handle on it you say? Wow, I don't think I've ever seen that version.

I'll have to dig it out so I can get a picture. It is in the back of one of my display boxes that will take a little digging to reach it. Most of the all steel Thayer's are marked with the patent. One of mine is marked and one isn't marked. This one on eBay is marked.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/152087248412?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I sent the seller an email and told him what it is and the patent info.

Thayer Plus the wood handle version. Not sure who made the wood handled one.

Quote from: Lewill2 on May 17, 2016, 03:45:43 PM
Thayer Plus the wood handle version. Not sure who made the wood handled one.

I can see the reasoning behind the wood handle.  It doesn't transfer heat.

Wow, that's an interesting twist. It seems like there are always "regular" Thayer tools around for sale, but I've never seen that wooden handle version before. Too bad there isn't any information about who made it, and when.

My one Kitchen Collectables book states that the Thayer is often found in brass/bronze type of material. I've never seen one in that type of material before. They also stated that you will find it sold/advertised as a set of brass knuckles for self defense. The book has a copyright of 1991, and lists the value of $30 - $45. 

Quote from: Lewill2 on May 18, 2016, 09:17:22 AM
My one Kitchen Collectables book states that the Thayer is often found in brass/bronze type of material. I've never seen one in that type of material before. They also stated that you will find it sold/advertised as a set of brass knuckles for self defense. The book has a copyright of 1991, and lists the value of $30 - $45.

Yeah every one that I've seen is cast iron, with varying amounts of black japan finish left on it. Never seen a bronze one before.

the Goff style lifter with the spring is at auction with a bunch of tools.

they will be at MJD's auction July 23. at his place in N.Y.

lot number; 160 2190

Actually both styles have a spring. One has a leaf spring and the other has a coiled compression spring.