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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Silverplate Forum
 Another Whatzit
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| Author | Topic: Another Whatzit |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 05-20-2002 12:36 PM
  
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. IP: Logged |
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Bill H Posts: 31 |
posted 05-20-2002 09:46 PM
Scott My guess is a cheese ball holder. IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 05-20-2002 10:37 PM
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! IP: Logged |
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smfc75 Posts: 122 |
posted 05-20-2002 11:06 PM
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. IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 05-21-2002 12:26 PM
I thought maybe it was to hold some kind of spherical food--certain fruits or, as Bill suggested, a cheese ball. IP: Logged |
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yesterdays Posts: 8 |
posted 05-21-2002 12:36 PM
Could it be a melon stand,as the Victorians were absolutely crazy over a wide variety of melons? ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Bill H Posts: 31 |
posted 05-21-2002 09:45 PM
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. IP: Logged |
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June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1326 |
posted 05-21-2002 10:05 PM
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. IP: Logged |
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akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 05-22-2002 12:11 PM
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? IP: Logged |
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Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 05-22-2002 02:46 PM
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 IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 05-22-2002 03:38 PM
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? IP: Logged |
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smfc75 Posts: 122 |
posted 05-22-2002 08:31 PM
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! IP: Logged |
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smfc75 Posts: 122 |
posted 08-13-2002 11:55 PM
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? IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 08-14-2002 09:16 AM
This tread is getting a little long to load ... The thread is continued here: Another Whatzit -contiued (2) (click here)
IP: Logged |
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