1700. Since the head of this tool can pivot, it can't be used as a hammer or pick. The owner of it had a Civil War book that described it as a cannon tool, he said that it was used by soldiers to disable enemy cannons or their own if they had to retreat. The spike was placed in the ignition hole and hammered until the cannon cracked or until the hole was large enough that the cannon was no longer usable.
I've since been informed that:
The phrase "to spike a cannon" meant to disable it by driving a tapered wrought iron plug, or spike, down the touch hole with a hammer until it was level and firmly embedded. I suppose the spike could eventually be drilled out, but tools to do this were not readily available, and the process would take some time.
If the book was correct that this is a cannon tool, it was probably used as a punch by the maker of the cannon.
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1701. These are the hydraulic controls for a car carrier:
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The levers are located just ahead of the two last tires.
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Just above the second wheel there were six levers marked 1 through 6, I didn't see levers 7 through 9, they might have been on the other side of the truck.
The cylinders are numbered so the operator can tell which lever to use.
1702. This was for use at a tractor or truck pulling event, as it's pulled the weight moves forward, making it more difficult:
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Here is another one, with a sled attached:
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The sleds were shot at antique machinery shows, below are some of the old steam tractors that I shot at one of them.
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1703. This device was mounted to a carriage and held the reins for the driver:
1704. A kerosene container, it was rotated to fill lamps directly or to fill a much smaller container that was carried around the house or up stairs if needed.
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Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the entire post.
More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles. Glenwood Gardens Park
