My husband found a positively ancient-looking tool of some sort down by the river across the road from us. It's about five feet long; the head is made of iron and it both a point and a hook. The handle looks to be made of wood but we're not sure. Background info: the river runs by a bunch of old mill buildings--there are mill buildings everywhere, as we live in New Hampshire. Could it have been a milling tool of some sort? How would we research this? Thanks!
2006-08-30 07:04:50 · 12 answers · asked by peachy78 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Try your local historical society...almost every city in the U.S. has one...they can either put you in touch with a local historian familar with the area/records and he/she can help you research your find....it's free and fun to solve the mystery. Even if nothing worthwile pans out, you will know a heck of a lot more about where you live......
2006-08-30 09:30:51 · answer #1 · answered by boston857 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a logging pole. If it is, it would have been used by loggers and river men to keep the lumber from jammimg as it moved down stream toward the mill.
2006-08-30 07:09:27 · answer #2 · answered by hutmikttmuk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it was a tool still used today for logging. If it has a point on one end and a curved piece attached it was and is used for turning logs. But if you want to check out tools, go to the Library of Congress' website at loc.gov
2006-08-30 11:54:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are in a town big enough to have a museum, contact their curator of history. You may even have a mill village museum near you and they could guide you. Another thought is to contact your local media and have them find out what it is.
2006-08-30 07:10:46 · answer #4 · answered by Missie D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cool.
Since it has metal, it would have to be something that was made after Europeans came to North America. (First Nations did not use any forged metals).
I would bring this - or send pictures - to a local museum or the history department of a local university.
2006-08-30 07:11:50 · answer #5 · answered by pezdispenserwisdom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know exactly what it is, i will edit this when i find a picture to make sure it is what you are talking about
It is just like that but made of wood and is used for fishing it is called a hook spear well that one if i will keep looking for the fishing spear
it has a tip just like a fire poker right??
2006-08-30 07:07:33 · answer #6 · answered by Dum Spiro Spero 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you looked on e-bay for antique milling tools?
2006-08-30 07:07:34 · answer #7 · answered by just browsin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like a tool loggers used to handle logs flowing downstream - a timberjack
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/default.php?cPath=36
2006-08-30 07:09:25 · answer #8 · answered by Norman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like a "billhook" this was used in pruning trees and hedges but also as a weapon of war like a halberd or a "glaive" or many other pole arms!!another possibility is a "hayknife" used for shaping hay or sillage stacked for animal fodder!!!
2006-08-30 08:00:24 · answer #9 · answered by eldoradoreefgold 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the folks at Yankee Magazine. It gives you an excuse to visit Dublin. (Dublin, NH, that is.)
2006-08-30 07:11:41 · answer #10 · answered by Jack430 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋