Posted 9 years ago
curiousgeo…
(3 items)
All brass instrument; removeable cap at one end revealing an empty cavity; knob turns on top. I have no idea what this instrument is used for - I haad thought perhaps for medical use, but was told by a medical historian that it was not. It is made by Will & Finck of San Francisco, knife and instrument makers, in operation 1864-1932.
Any assistance in identifying this instrument would be greatly appreciated.
Maybe the cavity held a spool of string or something & the knob for feeding it out? Does the cap have a hole in it?
The cone shape end has a hole in it. The other end with a knob pulls off revealing the cavity. The turning knob on top, turns a spindle inside. This spindle has a cavity on one side that I can see when I look inside and turn it. I cannot see light through to the cone-shaped end though. It's hard to describe, so I apologize if this is confusing.
I don't think this is for string though. Thanks.
I unscrewed the cone end. The spindle inside, which is turned by the knob on top, has a cavity on one side. The only transfer between the cone side and the knobbed-cap side that could occur would be through this cavity in the spindle - if that makes sense! There is no hole through.
You can't possibly confuse me more than I am already in my natural state.
I'm thinking you should send that to me for a complete and thorough analys, and send the cool knife as well!
Ha! Ha! So Will & Finck made cutlery, medical and surgical instruments, trusses, barber instruments, doorbells, lighting locks and more - I've searched tons and see nothing like this instrument.
It's interesting when I pull the knobbed cap off it pops so it's a very tight fit on the compartment.