DO YOU KNOW THE USE OF THIS ITEM?
JOEL SCHIFF SENT THIS INFO WITH PHOTO LOCATIONS.
Just getting around to taking pics of this, & thought that you & the G&CICA site might be interested -- haven't a clue as to what it is. All of he URLs did seem to pick up the pics on Flickr.
best -- joel
Came on this on Ebay a bit ago -- haven't a clue what it is -- cookware related or not.
Have put a sequence of pics on flickr -- hopefully this should be able to pick them up.
Info x fork:
1) www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259306591 /in/photostr...
CI ForkTop1 -- total
Unusual Heavy cast iron 'Fork' with robust cylindrical bottom knob, & openwork handle
11 7/8" lng x 2 3/4"ow.(at the tongs/tines end), 3" ow..(down at the 'shoulder'), 5/8" ow(at the 'neck'), 1 1/4" ow.(at the handle end)
Fork tines/tongs are ~ 4" long, flat on top(~5/8" ow. at the base), tri-angular in cross-section(presumably for strength), tapering to the point.
[wt.= 1 14/lbs]
2) http://www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259306597/in/photostream/
CI ForkTop2 -- center
'Shoulders' of fork, with indented inscription
The crux of the tines/tongs, & bottom knob would stop the fork from proceeding too far into an eg. meat, while the massive handle could provide both gripping & lifting leverage, But what would need this? The handle seems too short, despite the openwork ventilation to allow meat to be held constantly over a fire.
3) www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259306599 /in/photostr...
CI ForkTop3 -- inscript
ditto Inscription almost legible -- 'Patented; Nov 30; 1853' ?
4) http://www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259306601/in/photostream/
CI ForkTop4 -- tines
5) http://www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259306605/in/photostream/
CI ForkTopSide5
Side showing hollow handle openwork
6) www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259306611 /in/photostr...
CI ForkBottomSide6
Bottom/side showing the large(7/8"od. at top x 1" 'up') cylindrical 'knob/post'
1) As a 'lever' the bottom 'knob' can only raise the tines/tongs ~ 2 1/4" up from the surface -- so while the tri-angular cross-section of the tines is built for leverage, with cast iron being also brittle, 'tis a question how much of a 'crowbar' this could be.
2) On the other hand, the very robust, cylindrical 'knob' could easily act to crack shellfish or bones.
7) http://www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5260092802/in/photostream/
CI ForkBottom7 -- knob1
Pic of the cylindrical knob 'wacker'?
8) www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259484443 /in/photostr...
CI ForkBottom8 -- knob side
Second pic of the knob
9) http://www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259484537/in/photostream/
CI Fork9 -- inside rod
Pic of the hollow handle, with clear 'shot' of the bizarre round internal rod
10) http://www.flickr.com/photos/34296230@N07/5259484595/in/photostream/
CI Fork10 -- inside rod end
Handle end with visible tip of the internal round rod.
(almost seems like there should be some electrical hookup -- but as all iron, that wouldn't appear all that healthy)
-----Original Message-----
From: Doris Mosier
Sent: Dec 12, 2010 12:42 PM