What's It Wednesday: Answer for September 16th

Did you see our “What’s it Wednesday” post on Facebook? We asked what this artifact could be.

As a reminder the object is a two-piece artifact. Both pieces are made of metal. The first piece is reminiscent of scissors and are built in a very similar way, however these scissors do not have a cutting blade, instead they have two square faces that close into each other when the scissors are closed. The second piece is a decorative holder for these scissors.

The object is actually a candle snuffer. The flat faces on the scissors are the part that covers the flame of a candle, as you close the scissor handles the candle is snuffed. Once the candle is snuffed you can open the scissors again and place it back in its holder until the next time a candle needs extinguishing. This type of candle snuffer avoids pressing the wick down into the tip of the candle like other candle snuffers do, allowing the wick to often last longer as it prevents bending the wick.

This is the last What's It Wednesday for the season, we hope you had fun learning with us and continue to visit our page for more fun and interesting history!

What's It Wednesday: Answer for September 9

 

Did you see our “What’s it Wednesday” post on Facebook? We asked what this artifact could be.

As a reminder the object is a light metal pail, however that’s not all it is. The pail has two metal planes that cross it. One, which crosses approximately 10% of the pails opening at its lip and another which covers approximately 95% of the pail’s opening about 5cm below the top lip. The pail has little feet on its outside, so it sits on its side without rolling around.

The object is actually a chicken feed pail. Chicken feed would be placed in the bucket and slowly fall out as chicken ate the feed that sat inside. The larger metal lid controlled how much feed fell out at once, a larger opening meant more feed for the chickens, whereas the smaller metal plane acted as a stopper or lip so the chicken feed wouldn’t keep pouring out onto the floor

What's It Wednesday: Answer for September 2nd

Did you see our “What’s it Wednesday” post on Facebook? We asked what this wooden object could be.

As a reminder the artifact is a two-piece wooden object. The first piece is bell shaped with a hole just large enough for the handle of the second piece to fit inside. The second piece is a flat disc with embossed decorations on one side and a handle.

The object is actually a butter mold or butter press. Back when you couldn’t buy butter in the local grocery store you had to make it yourself, but when butter comes out of the churn it’s a little gross and lumpy. To make a more pleasing shape, and impress your dinner guests, you would use a butter mold to make decorative butter shapes.

What's It Wednesday: Answer for August 26

 

Did you see our “What’s it Wednesday” post on Facebook? We asked what this artifact could be.

As a reminder the artifact is a metal object with a basket at the end opens and closes with joints on its far end an is kept closed with a small metal ring that slides over the small tab on one side of the basket. The handle is made so that a hand fits comfortably around it.

This object is actually a soap saver. It is used to hold pieces of soap when they get to small to use in your hand. All the little soap pieces collect inside the basket to save for laundry day. When clothes needed to be washed in a wringer washer or by hand, you could swirl the soap saver in the water, using up every last bit of the soap.

What's It Wednesday: Answer for August 19th

Did you see our “What’s it Wednesday” post on Facebook? We asked what this artifact could be.

As a reminder this is a composite object made of both iron and wood for its handle. This object is made to be held in one hand and pivots at the central joint, opening the metal jaws as you squeeze the wooden handle.

The object is actually a hair curler. 

Similar to the curling irons of today, you wrap your hair around the round half of the jaws and close the concave half around that, leaving it for a few seconds and then removing your hair to get a ringlet. The only difference between this curling iron and modern ones is that you heat this one up by placing in on top of your wood or coal stove. The wooden handles on this device helps avoid finger burns as you curl your hair.

The following photo features a whole bunch of other types of irons, some for hair, clothes and even for bonnet brims and ribbons!

What's It Wednesday: Answer for August 12th

Did you see our “What’s it Wednesday” post on Facebook? We asked what this wooden and iron object could be.

As a reminder the object is a wooden box with cast iron mechanisms on top. The mechanism is connected to a handle seen on top and turns 360° both to the left and right. The wooden box is joined by finger joints and has a small drawer that pulls in and out.

This object is a coffee bean grinder!

The top of the grinder opens up as seen in the image below to where you pour in your coffee beans. After closing the mechanism at the top, you turn the handle and your coffee grinds will fall into the drawer beneath which you can pull out to reveal your freshly ground coffee!