Can you identify this tool??

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If it is a key----- maybe it's used to operate the mythical Red Phone on the President's desk? :)

Starting another rumor-----Was Step's grandma a member of a now gone agency? Pass it on! :ohmy:
 
Sorry this topic seems to have died a little, I don't believe she was a member of a secret agency! I can't find a use for it still!
 
Sorry this topic seems to have died a little, I don't believe she was a member of a secret agency! I can't find a use for it still!


Every time I go to Goodwill I look in the kitchen utensils to see of anyone donated one. I still wouldn't know what it was for, but I would have one! LOL
 
If I had to guess, I would think it was a pottery tool to pick up unglazed plates and move them in and out of a kiln without touching and marking with fingerprints. But if so, you would need two of them. It has the same shape as ones with more indentations to hold plates and tiles in a kiln, but that wood would burn up in a hurry if it was left inside. So it must be for moving plates and tiles around.
 
Yesterday I was thinking about resurrecting this old thread/mystery---- and now you've done it for me! Thanks. :)

Hoping new members (or older members who just came back) might have fresh ideas.

Can you find a picture on google for the type of pottery tool you're thinking about? Maybe not the same one, but similar enough?
 
This kind works inside the kiln, so you see they look alike, just no handle.
stackable-tile-and-plate-setters.jpg
 
This kind works inside the kiln, so you see they look alike, just no handle.
stackable-tile-and-plate-setters.jpg

I see what you mean---- similar. The woman who had this was said to be 'crafty' (in the nice way). Other potters commented here and thought 'maybe' or 'no'.
 
the tool in question appears to be aluminum - it would not take the heat in a ceramic kiln....

could be a tool used to make the ceramic support blocks - the are very high temp clay - I wonder if the run-of-the-mill kiln could fire the support blocks to a high enough temp?
 
the tool in question appears to be aluminum - it would not take the heat in a ceramic kiln....

could be a tool used to make the ceramic support blocks - the are very high temp clay - I wonder if the run-of-the-mill kiln could fire the support blocks to a high enough temp?
The suggestion wasn't for something that would stay in the kiln. It was for something to move plates that had just been fired.

Good question about firing the support bricks. I think it would be. It's not like clay melts at high kiln temps.
 
My guess is that it is a tool to mark the top of parker house rolls or something like that. Pottery tools DO NOT belong in a kitchen drawer : )
 
....It's not like clay melts at high kiln temps.

uhmmm. some exceptions apply.

I used to wander about the countryside specifically looking for clay deposits whenceupon I would "dig and refine my own clay"

yes, run-of-the-mill kilns can/will get to temps that will "melt" clay - depends on the clay. donwanna' talk about the sagged/collapsed pieces I've pulled out of the kiln....

the usual kiln temperature 'indicator' one makes from stepped grades/temp ceramic "cones" - one watches as cones "melt" aka "sag" thus indicating 'it's time to unplug the kiln'

'rollin' yer own' clay means one has nadda clue as to how high a temp to fire - without a few 'test runs.' nothing like digging out 200-300 pounds of clay, cleaning it up (not a simple&fast task) only to learn it can't be fired high enough to fuse into ceramic before physically failing the 'I've fallen down and I can't stand up under this heat'
 
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My guess is that it is a tool to mark the top of parker house rolls or something like that. Pottery tools DO NOT belong in a kitchen drawer : )

Note to me: Quick---- clean out my kitchen drawer before quaker visits me. :ohmy:
 
....It's not like clay melts at high kiln temps.

uhmmm. some exceptions apply.

I used to wander about the countryside specifically looking for clay deposits whenceupon I would "dig and refine my own clay"

yes, run-of-the-mill kilns can/will get to temps that will "melt" clay - depends on the clay. donwanna' talk about the sagged/collapsed pieces I've pulled out of the kiln....

the usual kiln temperature 'indicator' one makes from stepped grades/temp ceramic "cones" - one watches as cones "melt" aka "sag" thus indicating 'it's time to unplug the kiln'

'rollin' yer own' clay means one has nadda clue as to how high a temp to fire - without a few 'test runs.' nothing like digging out 200-300 pounds of clay, cleaning it up (not a simple&fast task) only to learn it can't be fired high enough to fuse into ceramic before physically failing the 'I've fallen down and I can't stand up under this heat'
I hadn't thought of that, the sagging. I guess the supports are made of clay with a high melting point. But, there must be lots of clay that doesn't melt at kiln temps or we wouldn't have any pottery. ;)

A friend of mine was a potter. She dug some of her clay and possibly something (sand?) to add to glaze or to make glaze. She said the exciting part was finding out what colour it would be after firing.
 
Darn the luck. :unsure:

When I saw this thread bumped I had hoped someone had solved the mystery. :clap:

Oh well, Someday we'll find out what it is. ;)
 
Darn the luck. :unsure:

When I saw this thread bumped I had hoped someone had solved the mystery. :clap:

Oh well, Someday we'll find out what it is. ;)

Oh, I sure hope so! How can such brainy people as us not find out?
 
I was hoping that this mystery was solved, too. :LOL:

I don't know if the OP is still here or not, but there is a FB page I follow called "Dusty Old Thing". :) People post pics of antiques and unidentifiable finds looking for help on it's history. Maybe if Step posted the pic on that page, there might be someone there who knows what it is. Here's the link.

https://www.facebook.com/DustyOldThing
 
I was hoping that this mystery was solved, too. :LOL:

I don't know if the OP is still here or not, but there is a FB page I follow called "Dusty Old Thing". :) People post pics of antiques and unidentifiable finds looking for help on it's history. Maybe if Step posted the pic on that page, there might be someone there who knows what it is. Here's the link.

https://www.facebook.com/DustyOldThing

Hmmm...I wonder if they could identify Shrek???
 
I have had it posted on my facebook page since I found this thread. No one has the slightest idea. The picture is posted publicly, so many people have had the opportunity to see it.

The best guess so far was to make strudel. To make the indentations.
 
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