No Clues So Far

[R.Smith]

Lots of interest at an auction but no one seemed to know this item's function.  I wish I had more photos but sister-in-law had the phone.  It looks the same on the other side.  The spring loaded part slides into a notch.  Out of the notch the middle part will swing out of the way.



Update:  Patent no. 739,901 Sept. 29,1903.

[Lostmind]

try googling the patent number

[lptools]

Hello, lostmind. I tried the patent dates that I could see in the photo, DATAMP's interesting patents for those dates, with no luck. Did I miss a patent number somewhere? Regards, Lou

[oldgoaly]

my guess would be it is a foot brake for rope rigging of some type. I'm not good at rope tying or even my shoe laces.  it would be used with various pulleys and stuff.

[Lostmind]

Hello, lostmind. I tried the patent dates that I could see in the photo, DATAMP's interesting patents for those dates, with no luck. Did I miss a patent number somewhere? Regards, Lou

I couldn't blow the photo up to see . Was just a suggestion. I'm thinking it was rigging brake also,
maybe barn raising?

[kwoswalt99]

You could try looking through all 603 patents filed on Nov 3, 1903.

[Lewill2]

I've done that already.

[lptools]

Hello, Lewill2. I am glad that I am not the only one who looks through hundreds of patent numbers!!!!!!!!!! Regards, Lou

[R.Smith]

Thank you everyone so far.  I'd be more than willing to look through patents if it could be narrowed down to just one of the days that are on the item.  I tried looking a few minutes ago but couldn't figure out how to look at just one day.  If this is possible maybe someone would be kind enough to give a link or suggestion as to how to do it. 

[lptools]

Hello, Go to the  DATAMP website, and click on Patent Issue Dates. If your dates match theirs, then you can click on that day/month/year. You will have 2 choices after that, the ones that DATAMP has on file, or click on ALL, this will give you all the patent numbers issued for that day/month/year. That is where the fun begins, as you scroll through you will see some things from everyday life, and all the way to, "what the heck were they thinking? ", and the ones that never made it to production. Good luck, Lou

[Lewill2]

DATAMP only lists those patents that have been entered by the people that maintain the site. I usually check there first and then go to the US patent office web site and look at all patents listed on the date. It will take a little to learn how to search on the US site. In the event you know the classification code for the item you are looking for you can enter that too. The important thing is that for old patents there is a pull down box to search for patents prior to 1976.

 http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-adv.htm

Your search would be ISD/MM/DD/YYYY

There are all kinds of additional items you can add to the search simple type "and" and list the additional search codes shown. If one of the fields in the search is unknown you can use $ as a wildcard in that space.

It will list all patents in your search or let you know if you screwed something up. You have to click on one of the patents shown and scroll through them one at a time using the keys on the pages as they appear. Slow process but you will find it sooner or later under either patent date shown on the piece.

My earlier comment about having done that already didn't pertain to this item. I have looked at hundreds of patents researching wrench patents before and after I obtained my Shockley books.

[lptools]

Hello, Lewill2. You are right, DATAMP only lists on their website what they or others have submitted. On that same line for each date, there is a link to ALL for that date/ month/ year. This takes you to a list of Patent Numbers from the U S Patent Office. All of the patent numbers for that date are displayed, you simply scroll down, one number at a time, and the original drawings and description are displayed. I admit this is a random search, but it is very interesting to browse through. I have had success with identifying an item by photo only. The US Patent site , to me, is challenging, I am no computer, or, internet search expert by any means. Regards, Lou

[john k]

I was able to enlarge the pic, but didn't help much.  Since the foot pad looks like it is for the heel end of the foot, and the hook is at the top, it gives me an idea.   It would have to lay flat on the ground so pretty sure this eliminates it from farm haymow use.  Am thinking could it control the rope feed for a winch, logging?   On board a small boat?   Oyster dredging comes to mind, or pulling up lobster traps,  have zero knowledge there.  Can't think  of any farm use where the unit would lay flat and still be anchored. 

[oldgoaly]

I agree not for farm use, unless one was a very wealthy farmer!  For some reason I'm think more for loading RR boxcars, not just any but the ones that crossed the US using block ice to keep the fruits and veggies fresh. I just keep seeing this operator with 2 levers and his foot on a pedal swinging a block tongs at the ice plant along the RR. The plants that made cracked ice would use chutes, not tongs.

[R.Smith]

Any of you guys may be correct.  I have looked at all 603 patents for Nov 3, 1903 and either it wasn't there or I missed it.
Maybe it isn't Nov 3.1903 but instead Nov 3, 1908?   And is it Sep 29,1903 or Sep 29, 1908?  Oh, boy.

Oh, and thank you Lewill2 for the link.