help!

[bird]

bird's back with lots of questions!!! when in doubt call it a nutcracker..... anyone know what this one is?

[lptools]

Looks like a nut cracker, I  believe Sargent made one.

[mikeswrenches]

Nutcracker

Mike

[bill300d]

Yup. Found it in an 1870's catalog.

[international3414]

i sold one like that,quite some time ago,found it to be a cork shaping tool

[mikeswrenches]

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

[turnnut]

 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.

[bill300d]

1874 Sargent catalog nut cracker and cork press pics

[turnnut]

 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.

[Northwoods]

I recall an auctioneer from years ago who referred to all such devices as camel castrators.  ;-)

[Lewill2]

Auctioneers are like car salesmen they will say anything to make a buck.

[bill300d]

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.

[turnnut]

 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.

[Plyerman]

I like how the catalog refers to them as Nut Cracks

[bird]

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