February
2003 Issue
by Bob Cahn

         
            A universal premise that we subscribe to: if one is good, two is better – and three has got to be best. This month’s Guess What is all set to perpetuate this theory. Shouldn’t be much of a stretch, since we’re always making promises, promises, promises.

            We’ve got a triple-header with a spinal defect controlled by a wing nut, allowing it to be folded for more compactness in storing. The three elongated  cotton duster plumes are woven like strands of a wig through a flexible, twisted-wire tentacle frame. This lends a certain flexible firmness to the skeletal forms (size of the plumes: approximately 10 1/2 inches).

          This was designed to perform a specific function, and if you’ll allow us to jump-start the guessing process, here are some suggestions:

1) West Point marching Shako headdress decoration plume;
2) Country store between-the-cans shelf duster;
3) Fuller brush man door-to-door pre-mium give-away;
4) Bartenders’ triple-header beer glass washer;
5) Between-the-ribs radiator section duster;
6) Early 10-candle mold tube cleaner;
7) Cast-iron corn muffin pan residue de-crumber;
8) Washboard groove and ridge suds and lint remover;
9) Venetian blind triple-slat duster;
10) Xylo-phone surface cleaner and tone protector.

            We’ve played the hidden-answer trick (buried among the above.) Revelation in next month's Journal of Antiques & Collectibles. Till then!*

 * Thanks to Carl and Noreen Thoresen, Enfield, Conn.

January
 2003 Guess What?


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Answer to January 2003 'Guess What?'

            In last month’s intro, we referred to the sexist reference reflected in the name of our subject: specifically, the product name – “Amazon” Meat Mangle. As a three-part multi-combo tool, we stipulated to the chopping blade as a mini-chopper and ice chipper, and the blunt end as a tack hammer. We’re now confirming the third function: meat tenderizer as delineated by the 49 knife-edged puncturing spikes. Manufactured by A. Kipp, Jr. & Co., Ossining, N.Y. First time have we ever been aware of “Jr.” in a company name for an early 1900s piece.* 

* available for acquisition