Oct 17th, 2007

The Case of the Mystery Heirloom

by doc.
Filed under: Uncategorized.

My friend Rachel (who runs a great Sewing and Crafting on Wednesday group) has a mystery device that we are hoping to identify. The mystery object is made out of brass and belonged to Rachel’s grandmother. It has an arm with three joints and a collapsible tripod stand. When fully collapsed it makes a flat 3″ x 4″ square.

As mentioned before this is an heirloom piece, but Rachel has never been able to figure out what it was originally intended for, as a matter of fact I’m only making the assumption that the three pieces on the bottom are even intended as a stand. For all I know the pointed end could plug into something.

Please note, I have updated this entry with more information based on reader comments. You can check them out below the next set of photos. If anyone knows what this is, or has ever seen anything like it please comment below or email at Doc AT DoctorPopular DOT Com.



Upated 10/19/07: To address a few questions and comments that have appeared in the comments below, here are some more details of the mystery heirloom piece. The piece appears to be stamped brass from sheet metal and there doesn’t appear to be any info stamped on it at all (ie patent number/country of manufacturing/company name). The tip on the end of the arm is not a clamp.

I do believe the hole in the center of the piece would have been used to hold some sort of object while the device was fully closed. If we knew exactly what the piece in the center was, we’d know what the heirloom was.

Previously I had believed the center piece held some sort magnifying lens that could be removed and place on the pointed end (as many of readers have also suspected), but I like Ben Yellin’s comment about this being a moveable/foldable candlestick holder. He says he has some and will snap some shots of them along with the instruction manual they came with. I look forward to seeing the candlestick holder on his and seeing if it fits into a hole similar to the one on this piece.

Upated 10/19/07 (evening): I believe this case is SOLVED!

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  • jin krause

    http://www.samuelyellin.com/store/

    It’s missing a piece, its a candle holder.
    See above site.

  • tnoe

    it’s a bracelet!!!

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  • ike plemons

    DocPop is awesome! i have yim yam and ram recordings from the very start. glad you solved your mystery.

    ikeplemons@gmail.com

  • Hug1

    My Grannmother had one and she was a keen knitter. I remember my Grandfather using it to pierce boiled eggs – much to Grans annoiance – but he has a bit eccentric tho´.

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  • praenomenal

    IT would be pretty easy to fashion a replacement.

  • dan

    I don’t know , but it should be band ! or taxed and never
    aloud on a aircraft,court room or school .

  • SUSAN

    PAY NO MIND TO MY BROTHER ABOVE, WHO APPARENTLEY HAS HAD ENOUGH BEERS TODAY. BUT I WROTE A BIG PARAGRAPH ON WHAT I THINK THE THING WAS, AND DELETED IT ACCEDENTILY.

    SO NOW ….I’VE HAD TOO MANY BEERS TO DESCRIBE THIS THING. LOL

    THE UP-SHOT IS, IT IS FOR SOME KIND OF DISPLAY, BECAUSE OF IT’S PORTABILITY. IT’S DESIGN IS NOT MEANT TO BEA USED AS A WORKING “TOOL” AND I AGREE WITH THE CANDLE HOLDER IDEA. IT’S PRETTY, BUT FUNCTIONAL FOR SURE OF CANDLE, THE DESIGN IS MEANT TO STAND ALONE, AND AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS. IF YOU TURN IT TO IT’S SIDE, YOU LOOSE FUNCTIONALITY.

    SO, IN UP-RIGHT LIKE SHOWN, MAYBE IT’S A “GUIDE” FOR SOME TYPE OF HOBBY OR CRAFT. IT SURLEY CAN’T BEAR LOADS OF ANY OTHER IDEA THAT I CAN THINK OF.

  • Keith M

    Ok how about the deal that its for jewelers to work on ring fittings when they wear a loupe. Kinda like an extra finger to hold the ring.

  • Forrest

    Hi guys it is a candle stick, but it is a travlers candel stick form aprox 1850′s england, I sold one a few years ago in boston, it had a nice leather case and a mens shaving kit that fit into the case

  • NAT

    IT IS A FIRE STARTER! lense holder

  • Joe

    thred holder?

  • http://www.zencreativemarketing.com.au Graphic Design Melburne

    I think it is meant to poke around in your brain :)
    if the middle thing holds sth when folded I still don't know what the pointy end is…

  • Linda
  • http://www.ipodtouchmicrophone.windows-gadgets.com ipod touch microphone

    There is obviously a lot to know about this.

  • http://www.vrnjackabanja.info/ Vrnjacka Banja

    Hm. I am not sure what is this, but I have several ideas where can it be used. But definatly it is some positioning instrument. For example, if you have to move some object, you can place it back where it was before. I think in movie studios I sow something similar, when they have to continue some scene, but they have to move some objects.

  • http://www.vrnjackabanja.info/ Vrnjacka Banja

    Hm. I am not sure what is this, but I have several ideas where can it be used. But definatly it is some positioning instrument. For example, if you have to move some object, you can place it back where it was before. I think in movie studios I sow something similar, when they have to continue some scene, but they have to move some objects.

  • Trish

    This is a Japanese Traveling Candlestick made by Samuel Yellin Metalworkers in Phila. You are missing a little round disc that inserts and twists to hold the candlestick folded closed, and then you take that piece, place it over the 'point' and it becomes the base of the candle to catch the drips. The missing piece is stamped Samuel Yellin Metalworks on the left of the hole, and Philadelphia PA 19139 USA on the right of hole. I have one int he original box and with the brochure.

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