Does anyone know what this is?

[gipsie]

Found in an old building that was being demolished. Trying to figure out what it is! Help!!

 

[Teegate]

That looks like a Morse Code type switch even though it isn't. Does it move up and down or do anything?

 

[kayak karl]

can you put something in pic for size comparison?

 

[46er]

Looks like a glass reservoir in the clip. Any markings/numbers on it? What is under the dome. What kind of building was it found in? Perhaps a specialized type of scale?

 

[dogg57]

It is a old style Ink holder.

 

[gipsie]

Thank you!!!!! Now maybe I can do some research and find out how old it is..... My husband and his friend thought it may be for an inkwell, but I didn't see it. I was wrong.

Other thoughts were a medicine bottle filler or capper.

 

[1Jerseydevil]

Amazing the knowledge of the folks here.

 

[Jerseyman]

Not just an "old style Ink holder," this inkwell and lid mechanism was specifically used by draftsmen when inking technical plans drawn on linen. The draftsman would open the lid to refill his inking pen, but, otherwise, the inkwell had a tight seal on it to prevent spillage, thereby spoiling the entire drawing. The same draftsman would use a sander—a perforated-top shaker similar to a salt or pepper holder—to aid in drying the ink. He would then brush off the entire drawing with a traditional thin draftsman’s brush.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[dogg57]

Not just an "old style Ink holder," this inkwell and lid mechanism was specifically used by draftsmen when inking technical plans drawn on linen. The draftsman would open the lid to refill his inking pen, but, otherwise, the inkwell had a tight seal on it to prevent spillage, thereby spoiling the entire drawing. The same draftsman would use a sander—a perforated-top shaker similar to a salt or pepper holder—to aid in drying the ink. He would then brush off the entire drawing with a traditional thin draftsman’s brush.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

Great Info. Any Idea why the lift handle is split and not 1 piece like many are from back then?

 

[gipsie]

You guys are amazing! Thank you so much dogg57 and Jerseyman!!!

I am not sure what kind of building it came out of. A friend of the old man's sent him the picture and asked for our help knowing that we deal a little bit in antiques.

Dogg, where did you find that drawing? I's be curious to check out the site that you found it on (if that is where you found it).

Jerseyman, as usual, you are absolutely amazing!!!!

 

[Boyd]

The same draftsman would use a sander—a perforated-top shaker similar to a salt or pepper holder—to aid in drying the ink. He would then brush off the entire drawing with a traditional thin draftsman’s brush.

Reminds me of drafting class, circa 1972. We had the pens, shaker and brush but used vellum instead of linen and the pens were "Rapidographs" that were self-inking. Boy those ink drawings were a pain. Once I actually started working, we used pencils for everything, since revising ink drawings is a bit of a problem.

I switched to CAD in 1993 and aside from a slight grin when I look at my old box of drafting instruments, I can't say that I miss the old system at all.

 

[MarkBNJ]

That is a pretty darn cool find! I knew when I saw the pic that the bottle was an ink jar, but didn't have a clue beyond that. Leave it to JM to come up with the details as usual .

 

[gipsie]

Cool thanks!