MTFCA Forum

My buddy Bill and I have been doing some barn exploring, racoon poop dodging and our version of American pickers (without making any money (saving what we can of history)) and he came across a couple of items that had even him stumped. The first item has no marking except for a patent date that looks like Aug 12 79 (1879?). The second item is a small air pump with a actuator that slides the gear back and forth to presumably engage it. We have no idea what these items are for and what they fit so I thought I would turn to my fellow codgers (seasoned experts) for some guidance. I am hoping these items may be the missing tool or parts that some museum or very rich individual is looking for to complete a multi-million dollar restoration.

Item one appears to be an on-board engine powered tire pump from some type of car. Item 2, I don't know... it might be a hide stretcher or carpet stretcher (?)

I'm thinking item 2 is a hand operated binder, after you went through with the scythe you'd use the rake to get some together then use the other half with the curved arms to hold it together to bit tied. Just a guess. I dont think automatic binders were available in 1879.

Yes, a rug stretcher. Back then , carpets were tacked to the floor ( ever hear of carpet tacks? ). Someone got smart and invented carpet tacks with two heads, to make them easier to remove. I’ve got a couple boxes of them.

Bills, sounds plausible too. It’ll be interesting what is actually is.

I thought some kind of fabric or hide stretcher but carpet stretcher is a possibility. Bill and I did some more sifting through the racoon poop today in a couple of buildings and have a few more Whatzits I will post. We pulled 4 model A engines out that would have been scrapped and put them in the hands of another friend that will preserve them. Not much Model T stuff on this pick but I did get a few things that added to my hoard.

Why is it no one recognizes a good back scratcher anymore?

Carpet stretcher