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Author Topic:   Another Whatzit
Scott Martin
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Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 05-20-2002 12:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another Whatzit
So, what have we here?

Three pronged arms rise up from a little plateau about 2.5 inches in diameter that sits on an elaborate four legged base. There is a handle attached to one side of the plateau.

Underneath is a screw mechanism that opens and closes the arms.


This piece was made by the Wilcox Silverplate Co. under a patent dated June 2, 1891.

So do you know what is it?

If no one guesses correctly, we will post the answer in a few days.

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Bill H

Posts: 31
Registered: Jan 2002

iconnumber posted 05-20-2002 09:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bill H     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Scott

My guess is a cheese ball holder.

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FredZ

Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 05-20-2002 10:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FredZ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The notches would lead me to believe that it secured a specific vessel in place with it's arms. I am at a loss as to what it was used for or what it is. I am certain it is one of the finest of it's kind I have ever seen though. It is such a delight to be challenged and educated all at the same time.
Thanks!

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smfc75

Posts: 122
Registered: Mar 2002

iconnumber posted 05-20-2002 11:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for smfc75     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
At first I thought it might be a Sterno holder, but Sterno wasn't invented until 1893.

I think it might have been used to hold a tomato pincushion.

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Paul Lemieux

Posts: 1792
Registered: Apr 2000

iconnumber posted 05-21-2002 12:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul Lemieux     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I thought maybe it was to hold some kind of spherical food--certain fruits or, as Bill suggested, a cheese ball.

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yesterdays

Posts: 8
Registered: May 2002

iconnumber posted 05-21-2002 12:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for yesterdays     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Could it be a melon stand,as the Victorians were absolutely crazy over a wide variety of melons?

------------------
Chuck

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Bill H

Posts: 31
Registered: Jan 2002

iconnumber posted 05-21-2002 09:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bill H     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another slightly different example, also by Wilcox Silver Plate Co., is pictured in Silver Magazine November/December 1986, page 25. It is identified as a cheese ball holder.

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June Martin
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Posts: 1326
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 05-21-2002 10:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for June Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ok, Bill H, you guessed it. It is indeed a cheeseball holder. Although the mellon holder idea hit our fancy. Thanks all for the good guesses.

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akgdc

Posts: 289
Registered: Sep 2001

iconnumber posted 05-22-2002 12:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for akgdc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Okay, and now ... what the deuce is a cheeseball holder?

In other words: when and why would there be a cheeseball that needed to be held?

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Brent

Posts: 1507
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 05-22-2002 02:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does anyone have access to the patent records, and can look up the patent for this rascal? I'm just curious, as I have seen a similar item, albeit with no decorative handle, that was described as a druggist's bowl holder. The National Drugstore Museum is here in Indianapolis, and someone there had identified it as such.

Brent

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 05-22-2002 03:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It wouldn't surprise us to find that this item had more than one use. Manufacturers were not beyond reintroducing an item for some new fashionable purpose. The druggist bowl suggestion would seem to explain the notches at the end of the fingers. So far we have only seen the Diana Cramer article which describes this as a cheese ball holder.

Does anyone have any other documentation?

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smfc75

Posts: 122
Registered: Mar 2002

iconnumber posted 05-22-2002 08:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for smfc75     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Anyone can access images of the original US patent office records at http://www.uspto.gov/ .

Without the patent number and with no idea of what was patented, you would have to inspect each patent issued on June 2, 1891 (approximately 500 patents) in an attempt to find the patent.

Even then, you may not find the patent because the date on the whatzit may not reflect the day (or even the year) that the patent was actually issued.

Perhaps Silver Magazine has the answer. Cheeseball holder collectors need to know!

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smfc75

Posts: 122
Registered: Mar 2002

iconnumber posted 08-13-2002 11:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for smfc75     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a picture of a "No. 24 Cheese Holder" in a 1906 Meriden Britannia Co. catalog.

There appears to be an additional piece which was held in the claws. Can't tell what it is, or even if it is silverplate. It certainly doesn't look like any cheese I've ever seen! Whatizit? confused

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 08-14-2002 09:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This tread is getting a little long to load ...

The thread is continued here: Another Whatzit -contiued (2) (click here)

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