This was found in a friend's chicken coop; any ideas?

Military mess kit item!

Sugar in the center for coffee.
Salt and pepper on the ends for boiled eggs!
 
As for boiling the water, that's what helmets are for!

why can't it be a contraption somebody was fiddling with, and serves no real purpose?


 

lol. Someone went to a lot of trouble hand soldering this copper.

I just realized we have a page 2.

Put the  your curser on the icon and it shows "dontknow" which is not a word so the spellcheck tries to correct you.   

cool....spell check!           

Military mess kit item!

Sugar in the center for coffee.
Salt and pepper on the ends for boiled eggs!
 
As for boiling the water, that's what helmets are for!

maybe some matches with the pepper. and breakfast is served at and from the chicken coop!           

tobacco /pot stash for green giant?

Could be a cigar cutter?

Spur cutter for cocks and a powder antiseptic in the end. 

Spur cutter for cocks and a powder antiseptic in the end. 

If I had to invent a spur cutter - it wouldn't look like that.

Mike

Spur cutter for cocks and a powder antiseptic in the end. 

If I had to invent a spur cutter - it wouldn't look like that.

Mike

Me either

Perhaps,??? the chicken farmer got all his stock hooked on coke in an attempt to lead said bird to stick it's head into this rotary guillotine?

In Europe, there were pneumatic mail systems that actually had tubing laid like plumbing under the streets.  We experimented with it here in Boston, NYC, Chicago and some other larger cities.  This looks very much like an early capsule used by one of those systems.  Western Union had a lot of these.

In Europe, there were pneumatic mail systems that actually had tubing laid like plumbing under the streets.  We experimented with it here in Boston, NYC, Chicago and some other larger cities.  This looks very much like an early capsule used by one of those systems.  Western Union had a lot of these.

It sure does resemble those containers at drive-in banks. Somebody went to a lot of trouble soldering this thing to exact specifications. Maybe someone will find a pic of a very early pneumatic mail tube.      http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2117.htm

So what out being able to put everthing into the bank tuble. You had three departments to cram stuff into with a center section that would cut off a finger. That does not make much sense.
 Could it have been used to clip the end of birds wings ya know those feathers to keep them from flying?
 Crazy it looks like the blades of a cigar cutter I have but  mines is shaped like a turkey  !!

In Europe, there were pneumatic mail systems that actually had tubing laid like plumbing under the streets.  We experimented with it here in Boston, NYC, Chicago and some other larger cities.  This looks very much like an early capsule used by one of those systems.  Western Union had a lot of these.

 

http://www.imget.ru/images/2010/01/11/ijQwOwxCJy.jpg

To use the item as a device for cutting, chopping, whatever
you need two hands.
Who is going to hold the Chook?
Mike

not sure of this was guessed before. but, because of the yellow powder found maybe a chicken vitamin dispenser    

because it is not sharp that all it could be good for was to put something in. the two end containers were holding something as well.
because it was found in the chicken house, right?.... it makes sense it was for mixing medicines or vitamins with feed in the center area...shaken/mixed then dispensed to a feed container.

not sure of this was guessed before. but, because of the yellow powder found maybe a chicken vitamin dispenser    

because it is not sharp that all it could be good for was to put something in. the two end containers were holding something as well.
because it was found in the chicken house, right?.... it makes sense it was for mixing medicines or vitamins with feed in the center area...shaken/mixed then dispensed to a feed container.

makes sense.

messenger pigeon transport/delivery tube   

TOO BIG PEOPLE FOR THAT. PIGEONS ARE NOT THAT BIG

Maybe they had carrier chickens!

Pipe bomb?

how about an egg warmer---incubator---transporter.
coals or embers in the end and a wrapped up egg in the center?     

Have you tasted the yellow powder or at the very least, injected it into one of your chickens? Two things could happen, each equally revealing: 1) you/your chicken could instantly dehydrate and die, or 2) you/your chicken achieve a state of powerful elightenment that unravels all the world's mysteries, including why anyone would want to withdraw sulphur from a drive-through teller, steal the canister, then hide the contraband under a clump of chicken feces.

including why anyone would want to withdraw sulphur from a drive-through teller, steal the canister, then hide the contraband under a clump of chicken feces.

...the perfect crime

why can't it be a contraption somebody was fiddling with, and serves no real purpose?

That's called art and this is no art. There's some obvious utility to it.

dono but is cool

why can't it be a contraption somebody was fiddling with, and serves no real purpose?

  Im with Slipperyjack47 on this one. Something to do with the egg doin's
at the coop.....

why can't it be a contraption somebody was fiddling with, and serves no real purpose?

That's called art and this is no art. There's some obvious utility to it.

If there was an obvious utility to it...wouldn't there be thousands of them laying around?

There are many patents that became failures. Maybe its a homeade one of a kind item that somebody was fiddling with but whoever made it spent a lot of time soldering it the old fashioned way and making it to these specifications. It seems to be a very well made item that is perfectly rounded and perfectly fitted with tight fitting caps and hasnt been used much. I agree its not art.

 Its too bad there are no manufacturers markings.

Its too bad there are no manufacturers markings.

Come to think of it, I'd check again for a manufacturer mark. It looks too high quality for someone not to take credit for it. Might shine a light down there.

Its too bad there are no manufacturers markings.

Come to think of it, I'd check again for a manufacturer mark. It looks too high quality for someone not to take credit for it. Might shine a light down there.

I agree its quality made.

We cant google it because we dont know what it is.

Its a tool to castrate chickens or for other farm animals.

Its a tool to castrate chickens or for other farm animals.

Are you guessing? Can you tell us how you know this? What are the end containers for? Is it a 2 man operation?

I hope you are correct but I dont think its sharp.

Its a tool to castrate chickens or for other farm animals.

So a testicle for each cup? Male chickens don't have external sex organs. I never thought I'd say those words.

Its a tool to castrate chickens or for other farm animals.

So a testicle for each cup? Male chickens don't have external sex organs. I never thought I'd say those words.

I thought he meant cut off the head but I just dont see it. I think Fisheye was just guessing.

Maybe a magicians trick. An egg is put in the canister and suddenly a chick comes out 

     I wonder if that could be a fence post bank? I have heard them mentioned several times but I don't think I have ever seen one. Nothing on google about them either, pictures anyway. I think there was a post with a newspaper ad about them but that was a long time ago.

HH Charlie

Does it have to be chicken/egg related, just because it was found in a chicken coop? Couldn't it be a plumbers doo-dad or an electricians soldering paste holder?
 

   

     Nope it sure don't, it could be from anywhere and for anything. I'm sure a lot of things wound up in chicken coops that had nothing to do with raising chickens.

Its a torture device for Al-Qaeda terrorists.They make em put a body part in the open tube and slowly turn the blade till they talk.More effective than waterboarding.

What is it?

I've been known to be wrong before so don't lay money on it but I think it was for cutting cigar tips in the center section. It it is old, the ends were used for snuff and cocaine. (Before it was deemed illegal it was used in Coca-Cola.)  ;)

What is it?

I've been known to be wrong before so don't lay money on it but I think it was for cutting cigar tips in the center section. It it is old, the ends were used for snuff and cocaine. (Before it was deemed illegal it was used in Coca-Cola.)  ;)

It would take 2 hands to turn it to cut the tip off the cigar.

What is it?

I keep checking back to see if anyone has positively identified this item. It has been over seven months since the last post, did you find out or give up?

-Ken

What is it?

I keep checking back to see if anyone has positively identified this item. It has been over seven months since the last post, did you find out or give up?

-Ken

Likewise Mate. I'm impressed
It's imprinted in my cells
so to speak
Mike

I have been thinking about this item as well.  I wish we had an egg expert to ask if this is chicken related.

 I believe it is a fungicide dispenser and that the yellow powder is sulphur. It was sprayed onto fruit trees to combat pests and fungi. Now how it worked is anybody's guess.

                             TOBACCO RELATED LIKE THE ITEM SHOWN HERE

OR ... POSSIBLY A NAVAL-TYPE CONTAINER THEY SENT MESSAGES BY VIA AN AIR FLOW TUBE FROM ONE DECK TO ANOTHER ?  (I LIKE THIS "GUESS" BEST). ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE MILITARY GREEN COLOR.  

I do believe this post is destined to have as long a life as the infamous "found in a football field...what are they?" post.

I may be on a wild goose chase here, but I am finding some interesting stuff related to ...

                         (old) ... "Pneumatic Tube Systems" ...

                        ... with lots of text, but very few photos!

Pneumatic Tube:

Pneumatic tubes, also known as capsule pipelines or Lamson tubes, are systems in which cylindrical containers are propelled through a network of tubes by compressed air or by vacuum. They are used for transporting physical objects.

I may be on a wild goose chase here, but I am finding some interesting stuff related to ...

                         (old) ... "Pneumatic Tube Systems" ...

                        ... with lots of text, but very few photos!

Pneumatic Tube:

Pneumatic tubes, also known as capsule pipelines or Lamson tubes, are systems in which cylindrical containers are propelled through a network of tubes by compressed air or by vacuum. They are used for transporting physical objects.

     I remember looking at a lot of web pages and thinking the same thing but I never could nail it down. The thing about pneumatic tubes was that they needed some type of leather or rubber washer type thing to make it air-tight so it would go through the tube. This thing doesn't seem to have any groove on it for one of those. Glad this got back into circulation, I always wanted to find out what it is.

HH Charlie

savant365 ~

Thanks ... I am beginning to think the same thing. I have seen some patents (which there are tons of going all the way back to 1890 / possibly earlier) that show detachable end-cushions, but most are one piece. These so called "Pneumatic Dispatch Tube Carriers" were quite the invention during their day, with the U.S. Postal Service (way-way back / early 20th century) using a similar system for transporting mail from one station to another. But those particular tubes were about the size of a small trash barrel.

But in the back of my mind I can't seem to eliminate that itching sensation that leads me to suspect the item in question is somehow military related. But as someone touched on previously, you would think it would have a makers mark or some other manufacturing indication on it. But apparently it doesn't.

Long story short ... I don't know what the heck it is! But I still invision it in the dispatch bag of a World War II courrier as he raced along some foreign road on his side-car motorcycle carring a message of utmost importance. But then again, maybe it was just something that grandma kept her spare buttons and needles in. Who knows? I don't!

Plus, the design of the chicken coop tube would not allow the insertion of full sheets of rolled paper anyway. Something else went in there. But what?

Thanks again,

SBB

                                        1920s tube carrier by the Lamson Co.  

I respect Bobs family knowledge on anything egg related... so... since he hasnt said anything, I will assume this has nothing to do with chickens or eggs.

Its a very good What Is It for sure.  I have no idea what it is but keep in mind that this item was hand soldered. I have seen cups made this way, (with the seam) that date back to the Civil War. My guess would be WWI era. I like the courier idea.

Im not sure how it could stay so shiny inside the cap all these years.   Either it has been closed a very long time or there is always the possibility that its just one-of-a-kind homemade the old fashioned way. Just some things to think about.    But homemade shop project or not, it must have a purpose and was made for a very precise fit.  Ill check back in a few days.

During the early 1880's, with the support of popular explorers such as Burton and Stanley, the British Army began casting about for a more portable "standard" ration, which could be counted on to sustain troops on campaign when cut off from regular sources of supply.

The first such product obtained was through the Bovril Company of London. It consisted of a metal or waxed fiberboard tube, which was partitioned in the middle. The metal versions of these generally had a soldered-on cap in place at both ends which was removed via a peel-away metal strip (similar to turn-key ham tins). The fiber board or waxed cardboard versions had glued-in-place caps with a piece of canvas tape protruding to facilitate opening.

One end held 'Bovril Paste', also known as 'Johnston's Fluid Beef', or what is known today as instant bullion (the pasty stuff mum uses to make kidney soup with). This portion of the container was normally marked 'Dinner'.

The other end held either a temperature resistant chocolate bar or cocoa powder. The portion of the container holding the chocolate was either marked 'Chocolate Ration', or 'Cocoa', regardless whether actual chocolate or cocoa powder was inside.

There were a variety of these rations produced clear into the early part of the 20th century, and many Bovril emergency rations made for the Boer war found their way into Royal navy emergency supplies during World War I, nearly 20 years after they had been made!

It is unclear whether the quality was high enough to warrant this, or if British thriftiness had gotten the better of the bluejacket's planners...

  Description: Emergency ration tin, oval with no markings. Boer War. 1899-1902.

                                "Food" For Thought ...

1. Is it possible the item in question is some type of war ration container? (Mess Kit).

2. If so, is it possibly from another country other than Britian? France? Germany?

3. Is it possibly something that was made later than 1900?  Earlier?

4. Is it possible the center compartment was a chamber for a small fire?

5. Reminder ... "Sulphur residue" was found in the container. Sulphur was used on battlefield wounds, (to serve as a bandage of sorts and control bleeding. Also disinfects). Is it possible the item was "Medic" related? Sulphur one end - Iodine the other? Gauze roll in the center?

                                              Bottom Line?

                          For me it has military written all over it!

                       Lots of questions ... Still looking for answers!

.

I sent an email to the Museum of Civil War Medicine...
I will let you know if I hear back.
JG

I heard back from the folks at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

Their first thought was a WWI message tube carried by a dog.


Still searching the patents for: message tube, dispatch carrier,,, so on

JG_from_NC ~

I have been out of the loop lately, but wanted to thank you for your efforts. It looks like you may be hot on the trail to something.  Good job!   

SBB

I heard back from the folks at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

Their first thought was a WWI message tube carried by a dog.


Still searching the patents for: message tube, dispatch carrier,,, so on

Never would have thought that, heres another picture of a similar tube. 

Found here:  http://www.pawprintsthemagazine.com/?p=4599

I heard back from the folks at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

Their first thought was a WWI message tube carried by a dog.

Still searching the patents for: message tube, dispatch carrier,,, so on

Never would have thought that, heres another picture of a similar tube.  

Found here:  http://www.pawprintsthemagazine.com/?p=4599

OMG Blacksheep. Its very similar. Good work JG_from_NC.  http://schools.mukilteo.wednet.edu/...aff/metzlersm/apush/lessons/wwi.htm

Great work people  It's good to see all the interest still, for this object. It has certainly worked my imagination since it appeared here.

The dog message cylinder looks like a possibility due to it being a cylinder of similar size - but there the similarity seems to end.

I have to comment; there are no signs of attachment points on the Tnet cylinder; why the two end compartments? also - If the centre (center) compartment was for holding messages, why not a simple rectangular opening instead of the complicated oval?
Imagine trying to tuck a folded piece of paper into the centre - it doesn't make sense.

What does make sense (to me) for the centre compartment is if it was packed (and easily repacked) with a material such as tinder cloth, which suggests to me (as I've said before) a tinder 'box'
or packed with cotton wool for, as others have suggested, a medicine kit, whether for poultry or people.

Cheers, Mike

Good points.  I was thinking it was simply attached with 2 leather straps.  The tube could simply be twisted to remove the message. I dont have an explanation for the end compartments.

Isnt it kinda large for a tinder box?

                                       AMBULANCE DOG ?    
                                    
                                               First Aid Tube ?

                             But where's the attachments for straps ?

                                       (I'm Still Researching This)

                                                     SBB

"The French war dogs are divided into five classes, each of which performs a special type of work. There are sentinel dogs, patrol dogs, ambulance dogs, dispatch dogs and drought dogs. In all these departments of military activity they have proved their worth."

its a old mating fight tube, each cap would hold a chemical that would be poured into the center of the tube, causing the male and females to kindle

Isnt it kinda large for a tinder box?

Kia ora Mate,
I'm not an expert, so I have to say, I don't know.
Like you, I keep an open mind until the ID is positive  

I highly suspect we are looking at a one-off, whatever it is.
Made by a skilled craftsman is without doubt.
Maybe he was trying to improve on this clumsy arrangement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinderbox

and Cheers SodaBob
Mike

                   Same to you Mike ... and a Merry Christmas to all.

It'll probably turn out to be some kitchen thingy that grandma threw at grandpa because he was out in the chicken coop drinkin' hooch!   

The photo below is by no means a positive identification, and is shown merely to establish that those so called Ambulance / Mercy Dogs of WWI did carry a "similar" looking tube around their necks. (Was it curiosity or speculation that killed the cat ?)  

SBB

                   Same to you Mike ... and a Merry Christmas to all.

It'll probably turn out to be some kitchen thingy that grandma threw at grandpa because he was out in the chicken coop drinkin' hooch!   

Probably the closest yet! 

Merry Christmas SBB.

                       Blacksheep ... Happy Holidays to you as well.

The following quote was posted by thread starter "GerryL," and is from page one back in November of 2008.

   " ... and the large middle one which is opened by rotating the outer "sleeve".

I'm (curiosity killed the cat) wondering exactly how this function is performed? If the end caps are left on during an attempted rotating process, do the caps spin freely, or are they snugly secured? Or do you have to take off at least one of the caps in order to achieve the rotating process which allows the center compartment to open? I hope my question makes sense. I ask it in order to have a better understanding of "why" the center compartment was so precisely designed. It seems to me that it could just as easily have been designed to "pull apart" in the center, but that the designer had a "specific reason" for the rotation feature.  

Thanks

SBB  

That's what I want to know. Which part do you grip and which part do you twist to open/close?
You say 6-7inches inches long overall. can you be more exact?
What is the exact outside diameter?
And what is the exact measurement of the center hole length and width?
Would also need to know if the center tube has been filed sharp to make a cutting edge.

I am leaning toward more of a 3 compartment container than a cutter unless the center has a sharpened edge.

It would sure be great to solve this before the end of the year.
That would be 3 of the greatest unsolved mysteries of T-net solved this year!

FYI the pignuts were proven to be from a Korean Gonggi set.

Thanks,
GG~



*OH I just noticed it has been 6 months since "GerryL" has been on t-net  

That's what I want to know. Which part do you grip and which part do you twist to open/close?

I dont know either?

FYI the pignuts were proven to be from a Korean Gonggi set.

It was a tough fight and I pressured him but I feel it was necessary since it was solved over 3 years ago. Im glad the new evidence was enough to satisfy everyone involved. Who locked it down? Maybe a mod locked it before Piggman changed his mind and requested the new package. I think he finally tired of it.  

Reminder ... Notice in the cropped image below (from JG_from_NC's original post) that this particular message tube does not have any noticable attachments for the collar other than ... what "appears" to be two pieces of heavy wire - which "appear" to be either welded or soldered in place. Is it possible that the tube in question is simply missing these wires? I wish GerryL were around to tell us if there is any evidence of weld spots that we can't see in his original photo(s).

SBB

That's what I want to know. Which part do you grip and which part do you twist to open/close?

I dont know either?

FYI the pignuts were proven to be from a Korean Gonggi set.

It was a tough fight and I pressured him but I feel it was necessary since it was solved over 3 years ago. Im glad the new evidence was enough to satisfy everyone involved. Who locked it down? Maybe a mod locked it before Piggman changed his mind and requested the new package. I think he finally tired of it.  

I assumed Piggman locked it so as to have the last word.

I sent GerryL a PM and hopefully will hear from him soon to answer a few questions.

In the meantime ... I took a measurement from his first photo which he said was ... {quote} "This thing is about 6-7" long, the quarter is just there for size comparison."

Regarding size ...

I first measured a 25-cent piece, which is exactly 15/16" in diameter, and then I measured the one from GerryL's first photo, and it measured 12/16" (3/4"). And the tube itself in the photo measures exactly 6" long by 1 & 5/16" in diameter. So the bottom line is that GerryL's original photo is just "slightly" smaller than actual size ... which I "estimate" to be appx ...

                     6 & 1/4 inches long  x  1 & 1/2 inches in diameter.    

I'm still kickin' SBBob, thanks for the PM.  :-)  So this thread didn't die, huh?  I never made a positive ID on it.  I'd say not a pnuematic tube.  I only had the item for a few days back when I started the thread, as it belongs to a friend of my wife.  And I thought I had taken good enough photos to surely answer any questions! :-D  I'll see if I can get my hands on it again to check it out in more detail.  It may take until after the holidays though. 
Does anyone have access to a chemical analysis of some sort?  ;-)
 -Gerry

I sent GerryL a PM and hopefully will hear from him soon to answer a few questions.

 It has 3 separate compartments, a small one on each end (one is shown opened up, and the large middle one which is opened by rotating the outer "sleeve".  One of the end compartments had a yellow residue in it.  
-Gerry

I think I get it. One end cap may have to be removed to hold the inner sleeve while rotating the outer sleeve. But Im not certain. My guess the outer sleeve can come completely off. I wonder if its lubricated or greased?  Otherwise it may seize.

Im wondering why the inner sleeve is silver colored?  Is it also copper or something else?

It looks to me like it was nickel plated brass in the middle, and something rotates, look at the wear scratches in the center part..........NGE

This should be just about actual size if I did it right.........

I'm guessing that the access hole to the center chamber was designed so that it would be larger (wide open) when whatever contents it contained were put into it. And that the adjustable sleeve was designed so that when the contents were removed they could either be shaken or poured out in smaller, measurable incriments.

For example : If it was designed to contain a "powder," the open position would allow it to easily be filled. And then when opened just "slightly" the powder could be shaken out. It doesn't appear to be water tight, but it may be. It just doesn't make sense (at least not to me) that the center chamber was designed for a piece of rolled papper or anything like that such as would be used for a dispatch.

And if I am even "close" to being right ... then what form of "powder" could it possibly have contained?    

SBB  

I'm guessing that the access hole to the center chamber was designed so that it would be larger (wide open) when whatever contents it contained were put into it. And that the adjustable sleeve was designed so that when the contents were remove they could either be shaken or poured out in smaller, measurable incriments.

For example : If it was designed to contain a "powder," the open position would allow it to easily be filled. And then when opened just "slightly" the powder could be shaken out. It doesn't appear to be water tight, but it may be. It just doesn't make sense (at least not to me) that the center chamber was designed for a piece of rolled papper or anything like that such as would be used for a dispatch.

And if I am even "close" to being right ... then what form of "powder" could it possibly have contained?    

SBB  

You are thinking along the same lines as me Bob.
I agree with everything you just said.

The yellow residue found in one end chamber described by GerryL could also be a clue......or not.
Not sure whether being found in a chicken coop is a clue either

Could it be as simple as a homemade condiment holder for camping? Salt,pepper,sugar
Perhaps part of civil war mess kit? or any military for that matter even foreign.

GG~

GG ~

Ditto thinking ... Sugar in the center, and salt and pepper in the ends? And though it still looks military to me, it may very well be camping (Coleman) related. Has anyone researched the Coleman Company archives yet?  I haven't!   

SBB

Food for thought ... The Coleman Company began circa 1900-1905 and was involved in the War effort. (At least WWII as seen below). And "may" have been involved in the first war (WWI) as well.  Note:  I am not suggesting the item is a stove, but possibly something "related."   

                                                   ~ * ~

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT (1930 – 1945)

Less than twenty years later, World War II swept across the globe. Like many companies, The Coleman Company did its part to support the war effort. Allied munitions and air forces contained parts manufactured in Kansas by The Coleman Company. In June of 1942 the Army Quartermaster Corps issued an urgent request to the Coleman Company. Field troops were in dire need of a compact stove that could operate within a wide range of conditions in multiple theaters, weighed less than five pounds, could be no larger than a quart bottle of milk, and could burn any kind of fuel. And, the U.S. Army wanted 5,000 of the stoves delivered in sixty days.

Work commenced immediately to design and manufacture a stove that met the Army's strict specifications. The end product far exceeded anything that the Army had requested: the stove could work at 60 degrees below and up to 150 degrees above Fahrenheit; it could burn all kinds of fuel; it weighed a mere three and one-half pounds; and it was smaller than a quart bottle of milk. The first order for 5,000 units was flown to U.S. forces involved in Operation Torch, an allied invasion of North Africa in 1942. World War II journalist Ernie Pyle devoted 15 news articles to the Coleman® pocket stove and considered it one of the two most important pieces of noncombat equipment in the war effort, the other being the Jeep.

I agree that it may be a container for powder and the center may be for mixing the two different types of powder stored in the ends.. 

I wonder if it could be a mouse/rat trap. Or a container to hold poison. The center being adjustable for the size of vermin so nothing else could enter. Im thinking the adjustable center is important but it doesnt look like a dispenser IMO.


If thats the size, it about right for a dog.

What sort of powder would need to be stored first then mixed?
Why not just mix it first then store the mix?

Only thing I can think of would be for something that would cause a chemical reaction...... but for what purpose  
Most chemicals and even arsenic would probably react with the copper and it doesn't look corroded.
 
I doubt it's a trap. What would shut the door to trap the vermin?
If its for containing poison, then there's no need to trap anything.
And what kind of poison needs to be mixed just before using?

I'm thinking it has three different compartments for storing/dispensing three different items that are different but related somehow.

The size would be right for carrying by a dog, or to fit in a large pocket or pouch.

Please note; If adjusted properly, the "opening" in the center chamber seems as if it could be easily reduced to a small oval no larger than a grain of rice. And, of course, larger if needed. (Just more food for thought when considering "what" it might have been designed for).

SBB

Please note; If adjusted properly, the "opening" in the center chamber seems as if it could be easily reduced to a small oval no larger than a grain of rice. And, of course, larger if needed. (Just more food for thought when considering "what" it might have been designed for).

SBB

It could be designed that way for use as an adjustable opening, or just as an open or close door.
I like the idea of adjustable size opening though.  

Could it be a combination pill, snuff, box?
Get a pinch of snuff from the middle opening, pills from the ends?

That's it!......The farmer lost his homemade combination pill/snuff box in the chicken coop  
He also lost his chewing gum in the chicken yard and thought he found it............ several times.  


Pic of homemade snuff box:

What sort of powder would need to be stored first then mixed?
Why not just mix it first then store the mix?

Only thing I can think of would be for something that would cause a chemical reaction...... but for what purpose  
Most chemicals and even arsenic would probably react with the copper and it doesn't look corroded.
 
I doubt it's a trap. What would shut the door to trap the vermin?
If its for containing poison, then there's no need to trap anything.
And what kind of poison needs to be mixed just before using?

I'm thinking it has three different compartments for storing/dispensing three different items that are different but related somehow.

The size would be right for carrying by a dog, or to fit in a large pocket or pouch.

I am just throwing out wild guesses. (That is why I used the "dont know" icons). I dunno maybe like the roach hotel. They check in but dont check out lol. :    Bob explains it better.  "If adjusted properly, the "opening" in the center chamber seems as if it could be easily reduced to a small oval no larger than a grain of rice. And, of course, larger if needed. (Just more food for thought when considering "what" it might have been designed for)".


As far as the dispenser idea, I cant imagine trying to pour salt or sugar through the clumsy center opening. Keep in mind I am not arguing with anyone here, just discussing ideas.

What sort of powder would need to be stored first then mixed?
Why not just mix it first then store the mix?

I am not a chemist but Im sure there are chemicals that are designed to be mixed with a catalyst prior to using such as hand warmers or epoxies. I dont know about poisons. But like I said, just throwing out wild ideas... and I certainly dont have any solid answers.

I like the idea of adjustable size opening though.  

thanks.

I don't know if we (The Three Amigos) are making any progress on this or not. But it's definitely better than ... well, it's better than a lot of things I can think of. So I guess it's time for me to go off-topic and do my "Christmas Jig"   Lol  

SANTABOTTLEBOB



 

I head back out to the Everglades about 2 am and I have a little time for my dose of brain food.

This is a toughie. Im thinking chicken coop is a clue.  Maybe if we find out what else was out there?

Anything else out of place stored in that chicken coop? Was it found on the ground, in the corner, on a shelf, in plain view, in a cage? ...etc

Didn't mean to offend anyone, I know we are just brainstorming, please don't take my comments personally,

Sorry BCH I now realize I was raining down on your ideas.    I was only trying to hash things out, not put you down.

Any ideas, no matter how far fetched they may sound at first are giving us topics to do searches on and you never know what will turn up.
So keep em coming gang. 

GG~

I've been thinking..... (dangerous I know)
If you have to remove an end cap to be able to open the center chamber then whatever substance is in the end may fall out.

Perhaps the end caps are on so tight that the center can be opened without removing an end cap.  
Or they weren't meant to come off in the first place, leaving only the center compartment as a functional chamber.  

 When I first looked at this I thought a plumbers soldering kit. The lead solder went in the center were he would pull out a length and twist it griping the solder so it wouldn't move while holding the whole thing in his hand during the soldering of copper pipes. One end cap holding the flux and the other end held a role of emery cloth.
 This is just my thoughts on it and never seen one before. It could have been the the only one made by a plumber for his own use or they were a kit sold a a store. 

When I first looked at this I thought a plumbers soldering kit. The lead solder went in the center were he would pull out a length and twist it griping the solder so it wouldn't move while holding the whole thing in his hand during the soldering of copper pipes. One end cap holding the flux and the other end held a role of emery cloth.
 This is just my thoughts on it and never seen one before. It could have been the the only one made by a plumber for his own use or they were a kit sold a a store. 

Great Idea!
That gives me something else to do research on. 

GG~

Didn't mean to offend anyone, I know we are just brainstorming, please don't take my comments personally,

Sorry BCH I now realize I was raining down on your ideas.    I was only trying to hash things out, not put you down.

Any ideas, no matter how far fetched they may sound at first are giving us topics to do searches on and you never know what will turn up.
So keep em coming gang. 

GG~

NP If my ideas dont fit, its cool to tell me. I was just letting you know I was guessing wildly and really dont have a good handle on this one. 

Since I just saw Santa flying over I figured this was a good time to plug in this message. It goes out to each and every member here on TreasureNet.com. Thanks for all the friendship and support this past year ... even if I have been a bit of a stranger lately.

                                                From ...

                              ~  SODABOTTLEBOB & FAMILY  ~

                                                 

I'm gonna make a comment on the round/oval hole. Someone questioned why it wasn't square? A couple of reasons for that could be that one, a square hole would have corners that would be prone to crack and wouldn't form as well when rolled. Another could be that the maker took two pieces of tube, put one inside the other and bored a hole through both at the same time. That would give you a stronger tube plus the two holes would both have the same diameter.

I'm gonna make a comment on the round/oval hole. Someone questioned why it wasn't square? A couple of reasons for that could be that one, a square hole would have corners that would be prone to crack and wouldn't form as well when rolled. Another could be that the maker took two pieces of tube, put one inside the other and bored a hole through both at the same time. That would give you a stronger tube plus the two holes would both have the same diameter.

I like the way you think. However the center hole appears to be oval shaped. Hard to drill an oval hole.

When you drill or bore a hole in a tube it appears oval. flatten it out and it is round.

When you drill or bore a hole in a tube it appears oval. flatten it out and it is round.

Good point!
Conversely if the hole were drilled first in a flat sheet and then rolled into a tube the same illusion would appear as well.