Do you know what this item was used for? I know what it is-because a dear Blind Pig reader gave it to me.
The piece is about 6 inches long-and 6 1/2 inches tall. It has 2 small legs on the back to keep it from rolling over.
The front has: PAT. D. APR. 7. 1885; MANF. D. BY. THE W.R. & CO. AKRON. O. The back is solid, flat, and has no markings.
The front also has a little cupped lip.
I didn't have a clue what it was till I was told-but I'm betting more than a few of you will guess it right off. If you have experience using one-or one like it-I hope you'll share what you know.
Tipper
It is a chicken waterer. Here is one up for auction. http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/chicken-waterer.-57-c-3ae833c87d
Posted by: Beckie | December 07, 2012 at 06:01 AM
Tipper, It is to hold your ashes from your wood stove if you have one and if you all smoke. I have a black coal bucket I got in Germany 45 years ago. That is all I can think of.
Peggy L.
Posted by: Peggy Lambert | December 06, 2012 at 12:14 AM
I thought it may be used for holy water for baptisms or perhaps to entice passenger pigeons to prepare them for picking up messages for delivery, by filling the "trough" with feed.
The bird design look like doves or pigeons and that's what gave me these ideas as to what the container would be used for.
Posted by: Angie | December 05, 2012 at 08:23 PM
I haven't the slightest idea what the object is, but I do get a kick out of the fact that it's from up around my neck of the woods! A lot of hill folk ended up in the area during the 40's and later decades.
Posted by: Ethel | December 05, 2012 at 07:16 PM
I'm with Tim -- the chicken waterers I saw were Mason jars with a glass saucer with ridges just high enough so the water would seep but over flow.
it also does favor a font for holy water.
Good "stumper" there Tipper :)
Posted by: Sue Crane | December 05, 2012 at 07:01 PM
What in the world is a salt pig?
I'm back tonight to see if anyone knows the identity of that darn thing.
Posted by: Miss Cindy | December 05, 2012 at 05:27 PM
Is it used to absorb the toxins in tobacco smoke?
Posted by: Jackie | December 05, 2012 at 03:34 PM
Tipper,
I ain't got a clue and have certainly never seen one. Since you have chickens, I'd have to
guess that its a watering device
for baby chicks...Ken
Posted by: Ken | December 05, 2012 at 03:18 PM
If it is not a bird feeder I think I've got it. It is either a spare button holder for seamstresses or it is secret coat pocket spitton for people that dip snuff in church. It could happen. I'm sorry but everybody's gone today and I need constant supervision.
Posted by: Bradley | December 05, 2012 at 03:10 PM
Tipper--I have to reckon it's a store-bought (or maybe catalog-bought) watering device for chickens or turkeys. Grandpa Joe had something somewhat similar, although it was homemade.
I can't remember the make-up of the whole thing, but I know it used a big old jar of the kind you used to get "institutional" food products such as mayonnaise for schools in. He had placed some kind of weight inside the jar (I think maybe it was a lead window weight he had cut into) to keep it in place, and he had also dug out a little place in the ground so it tilted forward and couldn't shift. He had chunked up the open end with some wood and left an opening to let a bit of water out. That's about as much as I remember other than that it was in the shade. I'm not at all sure how he filled it up, but knowing him it would have been simple.
If it's something else I reckon I'll eat the guts of the next chicken I shoot (but I don't plan to shoot any).
Incidentally, I got the idea about "eating the guts" from a fellow outdoor writer who was kind enough to say he would eat the guts of the next turkey he shot if readers didn't learn something new from a book I have just written on turkey hunting. Maybe that wasn't exactly your ordinary dust jacket blurb, but it sure gets attention.
I see a good many other folks figure it is a "watering trough" for chickens.
Jim Casada
www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com
Posted by: Jim Casada | December 05, 2012 at 02:59 PM
I don't know exactly what it is. Those two little birds on it make me think it is a feeder or drinker for them.
You know what, I think it just hit me what a WAG is.
Posted by: Bradley | December 05, 2012 at 02:26 PM
I wonder if it is legal to have this much fun.
Posted by: sandy | December 05, 2012 at 01:28 PM
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS
PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
JOHNIE
Posted by: JOHNIE T. ARANT | December 05, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Tipper,
Doggone it! While speaking of chickens and birds, reminded me of bird flu, which reminded me of, flu, which reminded me of the Tennessee flu increase, which reminded me of shots, which reminded me of doctors, which reminded me that we have to be there at 1:00 to get our flu shot!..(as you say) YIKES!
So, I guess I will have to wait until tonight to see what the answer to the mystery item is!
I hate shots!
Thanks Tipper, Hope everyone gets their flu shot...
Posted by: B. ruth | December 05, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Tipper,
I've seen larger (alike) pottery items designed in the upright position.
Those were chick, chicken feeders or waterers...
I would suppose that yours is a pet bird feeder...since it is so small. Maybe for passenger pigeons of long ago or the cherished Victorian caged canaries or exotic birds...
Don't need the bird but would love to have an old Victorian cage.
Seems to me you have a real treasure, whatever it is...
I hope its not a kill feeder to poison rats...ewwwwwww
Waiting on the answer.
Thanks Tipper, If I can't stand it, (to wait until later) I will research it. LOL
Posted by: B. ruth | December 05, 2012 at 11:57 AM
My guess would be some kind of feeder, perhaps for chickens? t
Posted by: Paul Certo | December 05, 2012 at 11:44 AM
I am clueless on this one.
Posted by: Julie Hughes | December 05, 2012 at 11:38 AM
A drinking bowl for fairies, elves, gnomes?
Posted by: Melissa P (misplaced Southerner) | December 05, 2012 at 11:29 AM
I would say it's something like a chicken waterer.
Posted by: Sam Ensley | December 05, 2012 at 10:46 AM
wow don't have a clue! It looks quite interesting though.
Posted by: Mamabug | December 05, 2012 at 10:39 AM
A kitchen compost bin?
Posted by: martina | December 05, 2012 at 10:33 AM
HI Tipper,Does it hold Catholic Holy Water.God Bless. Jean
Posted by: jean | December 05, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Either folks are not online this morning or you have them stumped. My best guess would be that it was used for water chickens.
Posted by: Lisa Snuggs | December 05, 2012 at 10:04 AM
I'm totally clueless on this one!
Posted by: Kimberly Burnette | December 05, 2012 at 09:49 AM
A chicken waterer!?!?!? do I win it if I'm right???? LOL
Posted by: Patti Tappel | December 05, 2012 at 09:39 AM
I'd sure like to know!
Posted by: Dana | December 05, 2012 at 09:34 AM
Porcelain Chicken Waterer. Dunk it in a pail of water until it fills up, then set it out for the chickens to drink. Porcelain keeps the water cool.
Posted by: Jon Freis | December 05, 2012 at 09:15 AM
Hummmm! There could be a couple of guesses for me. It could be a holy water font, a bird feeder, or even a water feeder for a small animal. Maybe it is a trainning cup for a young child or a cup to give a slow drink to an ill person. Okay, I think you got me!
Posted by: dolores | December 05, 2012 at 09:14 AM
It looks like some kind of watering device. Maybe a chicken water.
Posted by: Ken and Jan Kuhlmann | December 05, 2012 at 09:09 AM
A sap bucket for collecting sap from a tree?
Posted by: Lise | December 05, 2012 at 09:01 AM
My grandpa Coker had something similar to this that he used to water his chickens. His was more upright though and a biege color. The only way I would know this is I broke one of the legs off one day and well lets say I will never forget what happend next...
Posted by: Dewayne | December 05, 2012 at 08:27 AM
Watering chickens.
Posted by: Russell Wright | December 05, 2012 at 08:19 AM
I don't know what it is exactly but I think it is very cool!
My quess would be a bird feeder or a chicken waterer.
Posted by: Ron Banks | December 05, 2012 at 08:19 AM
No idea, but interesting.
Posted by: kat | December 05, 2012 at 08:11 AM
Not a clue, Tipper, not even a WAG. Is it black? Is there an opening to the inside? Does in ferment something? Does it gather rain water? It must catch a drip from something.
Oh, I give up! You will tell us, right?
Posted by: Miss Cindy | December 05, 2012 at 07:57 AM