First post: Very bizarre hammer head? Never seen anything like it.

[eogie]

Hi folks,

This is my first post here and I'm seeking your old knowledge to figure out what the hell this thing is. My guess is that it's a hammer head (has to be!) but I'm just not sure what kind. Even if we can't figure it out, it will remain nice to look at. I can post more photos if it would be helpful.

Thanks!

Eric

IMG_4016 by Eric Oglander, on Flickr

IMG_4024 by Eric Oglander, on Flickr

[turnnut]

 if it had a wood handle, it would look like a dandelion puller.

[john k]

My guess would be it is not a hammer, but a tool for a loom, making cloth?   Just a wild guess.

[eogie]

It's the small, mushroomed hammer head looking thing at one end that's throwing me. This hammer head looks somewhat similar...but not really.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Odd-Antique-Unique-Rare-One-of-a-Kind-Unusual-Tack-Upholstery-Hammer-1/232517430747?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

[turnnut]

 without seeing your hammer head view, I was thinking that it was hollow.

[eogie]

Sorry about that. It is solid and heavy and has definitely hit something a lot or been hit by something. I don't know if it had a handle but the big hole in it does look like it would receive an axe handle shape. Either that or you held it and hit it with a hammer?

[toolman]

 I started looking at 3 things that popped in my head yesterday! Glass blowers tool, Fisherman's net repair tool, and also a textile mill workers hand tool? Can you tell us the story about it, like how long have you owned it? Where did you find it, i.e. what state?,In the barn?, In grandpas old toolbox etc.? How long is it? Is the finish black paint, or Japanning, if you can tell? Any marks on it at all, i.e. numbers, letters, symbols etc.? i will continue to look for it, as it is a "Very Interesting" looking piece!

[eogie]

I just found it two days ago at a junk shop in Brooklyn, which isn't helpful at all although that might mean it originated in New York. It's 8.75" long. It is not painted. I'm not familiar with Japanning but it looks like raw steel to me. I wish there was a maker's mark but there's not! It's a bizarre one.

[Bill Houghton]

you just want to hope it's not an old medical device...

[eogie]

That sounds great actually

[turnnut]

 can you squeeze the prongs together ???

  didn't Brooklyn have many textile shops years ago ???

[eogie]

The tongs do not flex easily. There were many textile shops. Yeah.

[amecks]

So one of the things we guess when we don't know what it is - leatherworking or shoemaker tool?  Maybe the pointed end worked holes which were tacked, riveted or stitched.  Having two prongs would allow you to make the holes evenly spaced.  After the first two holes were placed, one prong would go in an existing hole and the other prong would make an evenly spaced next hole.

[t115145]

Right, and the hammer head was not a striking face, but was struck to make the holes.  Harness's perhaps.

[eogie]

I think that's a great idea. Thank you all.