What is it?

[dalez 145]

I’ve hand this kicking around my garage for a long time and never gave it a second. Always thought it was an old kitchen stove part. Last night I took a better look at it and believe I figured out what it is. I am putting it out here to see if I’m right.

[ebinmaine 77,962]

3 minutes ago, dalez said:

I figured out what it is

 

That's a ruler. Specifically a yardstick. 

 

 

 

OK.. and I dunno what the other thing is.  

[SylvanLakeWH 30,907]

Telephone dart... used to play the telephone game back before lawyers... 

 

Discontinued after a few too many head punctures...

 

 

[8ntruck 8,698]

Wrong @ebinmaine.  It is a blue plastic tray - similar to cafeteria trays.

 

Oh.  The rusty thing - maybe a portable boot scraper.  Stick the pointy end in the ground and use the flat side to scrape your boot.

 

Maybe a marlin spike thingy to help linemen with splices?

Edited 19 hours ago by 8ntruck

[WHX?? 55,784]

in other words no idea. The telephone has gotta be a clue. 

[Handy Don 16,096]

For pulling telephone wires? Tie a light pull string to it and throw at a pole then pull the wire up with the string?

[8ntruck 8,698]

48 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

in other words no idea. The telephone has gotta be a clue. 

Googling telephone troy ny 184 leads to a telephone exchange location and current area code.

[Easton Rich 1,092]

Its a WWII era missile that apparently was a dud. This is clearly a very dangerous item that would be very valuable to the right person on pawn stars

[JoeM 9,699]

When driven into  a pole, the end with the three notches is used as a separator to run multi lines so the tech could clip in easily.

Sounds like a good like of BS. lol

[ebinmaine 77,962]

The tele number likely isn't to do with WHAT it does but where it was cast

[Racinbob 12,876]

I just did an identification search. It uses AI so it must be right. It's 76% certain that it's a soft plastic grub bait. 

[Darb1964 1,157]

 

I want the gun that shoots it.

[Pullstart 69,419]

A man’s hair brush and tooth pick?

[953 nut 64,784]

I'm going with it being an ICE PICK advertising promotional that would be handed out at the County Fair or other large gatherings in Troy NY.

            Don't think it would have been given out at the airport, TSA would say that is a no no.            

[Wayne0 1,542]

I'm late to the party, but it's an Ice pick as @953 nut says.

[dalez 145]

Now my guess was a climbing tool. One in each hand and shimmy up the pole. But now I am doubting myself.

[Treepep 1,096]

Left handed oyster shucker All day

 

Broken fireplace pick?  Repurposed as a tooth pick

Edited 3 hours ago by Treepep
spelling

[dalez 145]

Here’s the other side but googling it got me nowhere.

[TractorEd 652]

Given the businesses mentioned and its unique design, this is an antique ice pick or ice chipper, specifically a promotional one for an ice company.

 

Identity & Function

The "cage" handle is a practical design for an ice tool. It is often referred to as a "cool handle" or spring handle, designed to provide a secure grip even when your hands or the tool are wet and cold, while also dissipating the chill so the metal doesn't freeze to your hand.

• B. Cooper & Co. / Bond & Turney: These names confirm its use. B. Cooper and G. F. Bond were partners in the B. Cooper Ice Company of Troy, NY. They harvested natural ice from the Hudson River and local lakes, delivering it to residents for their "iceboxes" before electric refrigeration existed.
• Telephone 784: This was the direct line to the ice house to request a delivery.
• The Pointed Tip: Used to chip off specific-sized blocks of ice from a larger slab to fit a home icebox.

 

Why the Unusual Shape?

The scalloped, fan-like end (where the business names are stamped) likely doubled as a scraper or a small cleaver for smoothing the surface of an ice block or breaking off chunks, making it a "multi-tool" for the ice man or homeowner.

Edited 2 hours ago by TractorEd