216 voters did not know what this was. I entered it hoping to find out what it is. Perhaps someone who did not vote on this may recognize it. What little clues I have are in the image notes. Thanks.
216 voters did not know what this was. I entered it hoping to find out what it is. Perhaps someone who did not vote on this may recognize it. What little clues I have are in the image notes. Thanks.
I would say looking at it, that the piece on the right is upside down, the curved part in the middle is meant to nest in the curved inside of the left piece, the gaps at the end look about right for a roll of 35mmish film. I would say a chemical was placed into the wood dish and a piece of film was pulled through it, the curve gently submersing the film in the center.
I would say looking at it, that the piece on the right is upside down, the curved part in the middle is meant to nest in the curved inside of the left piece.
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That is correct, it also has notches so that when the lid is placed, there is a gap at the end. I wanted to make sure to show the structure inside the lid, so I photographed it upside down.
Originally posted by togtog:
the gaps at the end look about right for a roll of 35mmish film. I would say a chemical was placed into the wood dish and a piece of film was pulled through it, the curve gently submersing the film in the center.
Just a wild guess there. :)
That was what also what retiredphil thought. Probably the best idea so far. This is turning out to be a tough one.
you wedge the back of your foot into the part on the left. then you take the piece on the right and wedge it behind your heel in order to remove your shoe.
you wedge the back of your foot into the part on the left. then you take the piece on the right and wedge it behind your heel in order to remove your shoe.
Hmmm, the idea of a reverse shoehorn would be appropriate for me...
There is no other purpose it could be used for since the design is very specific, sadly google is crap these days. The only question is, how was it used in daily development and what did it contain. Because of the slots at the ends it is obviously whatever went into it was longer than the object, i.e. film. The indents in the curved piece suggest a desire for minimal contact with the strip while maintaining the overall shape. Those two small indents on the larger piece on the back (center, not on the edges) are stumping me and makes me wonder if another smaller piece is missing that fits into that maybe a brush or sponge. The application of a chemical in this manner is odd however since film could be dunked into a bucket much more effectively suggesting its use was on-the-fly. I wonder if the chemical used tended to evaporate quickly hence the tight fitting design with minimal gaps. I'm now thinking this isn't strictly photography as it could be for movie film which being very long would be best processed in this manner feeding from one spool to another.
This is a grinder. You grind seeds in it, like black pepper and alike by moving (sliding) the top part forward and backward so the jagged part in the middle crushes “whatever” while moving it from the one compartment to the other.
... the gaps at the end look about right for a roll of 35mmish film. I would say a chemical was placed into the wood dish and a piece of film was pulled through it, the curve gently submersing the film in the center.
Maybe someone created an abstract object with the sole intention of confusing people as to it's purpose at some point in the future lol
Now I'm tempted to craft some object and simply hide it away in the atic for future generations to speculate over hee hee
Hey why don't you suggest this as a challenge.
"Take a pic of something who's purpose is unclear" then invite commentors to speculate
I don't know why it is wood. Perhaps it was made before there was plastic. If it is a photo thing, maybe it was used to develop prints by putting the exposed paper in it face down, close the lid, and rock the left end up and down to slosh the Dectol ( Pre digital Kodak software) across it. The lid would hold the paper against the curve, and the notches would keep the lid from sliding. A single print could be developed with very little chemical that way. A little black cloth glued on each end might keep the light out so that you could increase the light in the room while developing. Does it smell like developer or fixer if you scratch it?
It's a simple, portable, wooden roll-film developing machine. There were all kinds of these made back in the day. It looks to me like the cover piece is photographed reversed back-to-front, btw. Anyway you drop the roll in the slots, and pull the film through the tray; the "sprocket" projections make sure the film gets immersed.
Here's something from the same era, illustrated with a period engraving; scroll down on this page: developing machine.
I realize that's not the same thing, but it shows another in an almost endless spectrum of remarkable solutions to the development of film in the early days.
I think that pretty much nails it down. Robert seems certain, and it is in line with most of the other non-joke suggestions. Thanks to all who helped identify this thing for me!
It is described as "Yankee daylight adjustable cut film developing tank, adjustable for 4X5 and smaller films, daylight operation, instructions, NEW-IN-BOX, $50. There is a film loading guide. This will work as a clearing tank for Polaroid 3.25 X 4.25 film."
I had another look at it this morning, and I am not sure it is wood. It looks like wood, but tapping on the surface, it feels and sounds more like a resin of some kind, and has what appears to me a molding nub on the bottom.
That's not fair! Robert only knows because he's the only one here old enough to remember a time before cameras!
(running away now, calling over my shoulder, "awww, you knowww I'm joking, I wuv da Bear!")
At least I'm the best at SOMETHING... I remember Leonardo and his camera obscura very well, I was a technical consultant. Little-known historical fact...
