February
2004 Issue
by Bob Cahn

Care to Guess.? Email Here

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            Ever felt like throwing your weight around and couldn’t find anything to get your hands on? We’ve found just the thing with this month’s GUESS WHAT – fifty pounds of heavy metal (and wood) –  and we don’t mean the rhythm section of a rock band.

             This barber pole wanna-be stands 41-1/2 inches tall and is embedded in an all encompassing solid iron base, resembling a club foot. Its upper (or vertical) handle is 5 inches, with the side one measuring 6-1/2 inches.

            The possibilities are endless, and we’ve offered some suggestions; this month, the correct answer is not included. Here are our seriously insincere red herrings for you to consider. Is it:
1) Gymnast’s hand-stand balance stanchion
2) Coconut shell cracker
3) Wine maker’s grape crusher
4) Golf ball toughness tester
5) Circus tent stake pounder
6) Decorators country bathroom paper towel and toilet paper holder
7) Elephant handler’s toothless pachyderm peanut sheller
8) Scottish Olympics log throwing missile
9) Trench digger’s hole refill tamper
10) House renovators rotted floor board tester
11)  Early redemption center can crusher
12)  Weightlifter’s  eccentric bicep builder
13) Spring mattress bounce tester
14) Police raid battering ram.

            We have not included the correct answer, which we are saving for next month. See ya!*

 *submitted by Judd Caplovich, Vernon, CT.

DECEMBER 2003
 Guess What?

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Answer to January 2004 'Guess What?'

        Last month we offered an object that perfectly epitomized the apt but well-worn phrase – the blending of form and function. (See website for last month’s “form” photo) Getting down to the serious explanation part, we’re only reprising the function photo.

            This series of connected metal plates – looking much like a hand flail made from World War II identification tags – was used in herding cattle, either on horseback or on foot in the corral. The jangling metallic noise helped audibly – along with the sensory sensation of brushing and touching.*

            *available for acquisitio