Anyone know what this is?
- Thread starter Florida Tabdigger
- Start date
simonthesearcher
Forum Supporter
Second that 
It's an optical difuser for Martians! 
Florida Tabdigger
Elite Member
It closes up and looks like a pocket watch(even has a chain ring). It doesn't screw onto a bottle or anything. The salt or pepper goes inside this and you turn the dial to either sift or pour/fill.
simonthesearcher
Forum Supporter
Going to google it,and see what i can come up with.If its complete as it is then its very interesting. 
bugguy
Elite Member
looks like a type of cosmetic case for face powders
bugguy
Elite Member
and the tab might have been used to open and close the holes to allow more or less powder exit and go back into the container just a though
spittfire
Elite Member
Hey that is neat! 
Florida Tabdigger
Elite Member
Thats a possibility, I did find a Yardley brass lipstick at same location. Also found some coins and a watch fob.bugguy said:
Florida Tabdigger
Elite Member
No, the more I look at it, it couldn't be for cosmetics...I am real curious about the hole in the flip-up cover. It is opposite the inner hole. The hinge is complete so I don't think there was another cover over the one with hole.
spittfire
Elite Member
Could it by chance be to hold gunpowder?
Looks to me like a shaker cap, even though there are no threads. Maybe the cap was on a container made of tinplate or even cardboard, which has corroded away/decayed. Flip up the outer cap, adjust the inner part to sprinkle or for a larger amount, then close outer hinged cap.
What does the bottom look like? It looks like it might be a snuff box (shake it or pinch it 
) or a desk powder container that went with a traveling desk or writing box. The gentleman's desk set (1800's) would have a inkwell, a blotter and a powder shaker. The powder was shaken on the still-wet ink on whatever you had just written, then pressed with the blotter. Or it could be a traveling salt shaker 
)
) or a desk powder container that went with a traveling desk or writing box. The gentleman's desk set (1800's) would have a inkwell, a blotter and a powder shaker. The powder was shaken on the still-wet ink on whatever you had just written, then pressed with the blotter. Or it could be a traveling salt shaker )
Florida Tabdigger
Elite Member
It is 2 1/8" across, 3/8" deep. The bottom is smooth and convex like a pocket watch. It is made to be put on a chain and carried like a watch.
Looks like the inner ring turns to allow either pour, sprinkle, or closed. Definately for some type of powder. I don't picture it for gunpowder. I think they would want to carry more than that. Could be for some type of spice. Maybe the wealthy would carry it on a chain in their vest pocket for personal use while dinning. Or, you know how things were back then, could have carried cocaine, or maybe some type of tobacco for either rolling a cigarette, or maybe snuff. Looks like the type of thing you'd take to "Antiques Road Show" and be told it's worth $12,000 at auction. Take it to an antiques dealer.
The way I see it... From looking at the top pictures, the "thing" holds it's own small portion of the salt, or whatever. It would be stored in the bottom chamber. The big hole in the bottom plate is where it comes out. You'd turn the top plate to one of three positions: Pour (big hole), shake or sift (small holes), or closed (no holes at all). When you have depleted the supply of salt (or whatever), turn the plate to the big hole, fill it back up, close it and put in your pocket.
You know, back in the day, condiments were for more than flavor and taste, they were used to hide and disguise rot in meat and food. They didn't have 'fridges back then. Yes, they had ice boxes. But, cross country trips on horse back took weeks and months. Meat was salt cured or smoked, but still, they had to do something!
You know, back in the day, condiments were for more than flavor and taste, they were used to hide and disguise rot in meat and food. They didn't have 'fridges back then. Yes, they had ice boxes. But, cross country trips on horse back took weeks and months. Meat was salt cured or smoked, but still, they had to do something!
