Guessing Game Mk III : What Engineering Marvel is this.?

Stand and deliver your marvel, good sir.

The original can opener.......

Attachment 124950

Invented several years after the invention of canned food!

What did they use before this, an axe?

If your guess was right johntins over to you.....

Attachment 124951

What be this marvel...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

When I first looked at it, I thought it looked like a slide hammer for tooth removal.
But the pointed end would not make sense for pulling...

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I'm glad I don't have to go as far as Tamworth to see a Dentist.[biggrin]

A Telegraph Key?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fifth Columnist

The original can

Invented several years after the invention of canned food!

What did they use before this, an axe?

If your guess was right johntins over to you.....

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Not a chance. I have nothing. But I saw one of these in the incredible collection my extremely eccentric uncle had in his fire trap of a house. The central pin had to pierce the tin.

There's a Youtube short film called "The dentist of Jaipur". Can attest that it's not that bad this side of the range.

Although when I went to Jaipur, it was a bit of a culture shock...

The item does look like an early electrical contrivance.
I was going to suggest it's a battery, but wood is not very good at holding electrolyte... and the early galvanic cells were all made of glass- zinc/copper IIRC.

Not a telegraph key
Not an old battery



Another image...
Attachment 124953

Trembler coil?