Another What is it?

RayP(MI) · Sep 18, 2015

This device came from an old farm house we cleaned out a few years back. Think it may have to do with a wood/coal stove or furnace. Old house had both. This is not a contest. I don't know what it is! (Please disregard camera lens cap used to hold instrument vertical in the second picture.)

rustyfarmall · Sep 18, 2015

I think that is the handle, or wrench, for the grates in the bottom of the coal burning furnace, or stove. There would be a corresponding stub on the grates. You used the wrench to "shake" the grates to drop the ashes into the ash pan which would then allow more air to the remaining coal, and more or less "wake up" the fire for more heat.

Dick2 · Sep 18, 2015

Yup. Used to shake the grates to let the ashes fall through into the ash box. I walked a mile to the 1-room rural school for my last 4 years I went there to shake up the grates and get the fire going strong to warm the school room before the little kids got there. Also had to shovel up the ashes into a bucket and dump the ashes on the ash pile in the trees. For that work I was paid the amazing wage of 50 cents per day for every day that we needed a fire.

Made more money trapping mink and weasels, back when furs were a good market.

tomturkey · Sep 18, 2015

I concur with both. It is a grate shaker handle. gobble

RayP(MI) · Sep 18, 2015

Sounds like you guys have it, And it seems right from what I know about the home's owner. And the design of the object. Three for three!

Gary from Muleshoe · Sep 18, 2015

Definitely is a great shaker handle. We had a wood stove that had won just like it when I was a kid.

Another What is it?

RayP(MI)

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rustyfarmall

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Dick2

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tomturkey

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RayP(MI)

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Gary from Muleshoe

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