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From
high rollers to holy rollers, we’ve got a roller for you.
Different, unique,
unusual and of course, the raison d’etre of this column — to
challenge you.
Covered in a deep pink muslin with a few smudge marks (probably
recovered), we have a device with an extension arm lever that
activates and
rotates the roller in tiny increments. The horizontal bar helps
maintain an even
holding pressure —
but for what purpose?
 Standing
8 inches high on a cast iron
6¼ inch diameter base, the roller
measures 10 inches long with
a diameter of 3 inches. The lever arm is 3½ inches. Now that
we’ve inundated
you with all these
statistics (the better to paint a
comparative size reference) let’s get
to the problem at hand: identifying and figuring out its
function. It is an
accessory and works in conjunction with a featured partner.
A
few observations: is it a department store counter
"SALE" sign —
holding display stand or maybe a squeegee for drying wet photo
prints. Possibly
it could work as a wrinkled dryer and straightener or a toilet
paper holder. It
might have been used in early 20th century barber shops
to hold fresh head-rest paper or to wipe off straight razor
shaving cream lather.
Using it as a transporter of early Wall Street ticker stock
report is strictly
within the realm of plausibility. Musicians and arrangers see it
as a useful
adjunct for holding blank music manuscript sheets when scoring
for concerts or
recording sessions. How about these who’d opt for it to hold
crossword puzzle solving attempts to cut down on extended arm
fatigue and the
initial signs of carpel tunnel syndrome.
A
subscription will guarantee next month’s answer at your front
door.
Til
next time.
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We
must admit our curious fallibility when first we
happened on this mechanical puzzler. Sometimes you
get lucky, because stenciled on the underside of the wood base
was the following: