They don't appear to be marlinspikes either, as one in particular looks almost decorative.
They don't appear to be marlinspikes either, as one in particular looks almost decorative.
I'm thinking they are used for something involve thread, twine, rope, or another fiber. Maybe for some sort of weaving? Where you stick it in something, then use the ball/knobs to wind something else. Maybe for hair, in creating some sort of special braid?
Thing is, when I search for "tuning tools" or "weaving tools" or "braiding tools" nothing anywhere close to this design shows up. Even in pictures where someone has laid all that possible tools you might use for those functions.
The fact that one of them is made out of plastic or glass makes me think this is definitely not something that gets a lot of work. Not a belaying pin or marlinspike. Something that is decorative or for use in light duty, maybe for some sort of art?
pheller said:They don't appear to be marlinspikes either, as one in particular looks almost decorative.
Sailors use Fids for decorative rope work. It makes sense to me that something used repeatedly would be more elaborate than was strictly required. But often something like the balls would required to contain the knot or rope work.
You should see some of their work. It goes so much beyond a skill that it transcends art. I served on two WW 2 Essex class carriers carriers. the Ticonderoga and Bennington. Keel was laid in 1943-44 for those and they were in service until the 1970's that's 30 years or so for sailors to show off their skill .
I was thinking they were for spinning or weaving as well, but didn't have any luck. DW is interested in a number of fiber arts like that and she didn't come up with anything either.
I think my google-fu is pretty strong, but this is ruining me. I tried a number of reverse image searches to no avail.
Theory: whoever brought those to the librarian MADE THEM.
I was thinking something for sail making or maritime stuff as well.
ebelements said:I think my google-fu is pretty strong, but this is ruining me. I tried a number of reverse image searches to no avail.
Theory: whoever brought those to the librarian MADE THEM.
LOL most thorough patent search ever!
These things are gonna go down in history with the Voynich manuscript and the Roman dodecahedrons 
Interestingly, those famously mysterious things are both most likely art pieces with no real purpose, but just look like they could have a purpose.
(I still think these spikes are most likely some kind of weaving tools, maybe leatherworking tools)
No progress, but more googling for spinning/weaving/textile tools now I know what a niddynoddy is. But these aren't those. It's conceivable that they're distaffs, or distaves, or... plural distaffery of some kind, made for keeping fibers set to be spun organized (if I haven't gotten tangled up in my searching). That doesn't explain the knobs, but since I don't know how they're really used, it might be some other approach to the same tool.
The knobs on the acrylic and top left ones look removable and/or adjustable and the one where the knobs and wooden piece are further down made me think they're antique measuring stakes or something, but nothing comes up that comes even close to matching it.
These have to be made by someone as a one-off to do nothing.
I've posted them on the book of faces to try and get some more eyes on them. This is aggravating me.
Sometimes at night when I wake up and can’t get back to sleep I wonder about these. I hope the mystery eventually gets solved.
pheller said:Did you post to Reddit's "whatisthis" sub?
I'm pretty sure it came from there.
SVreX said:I’m starting to think it is a very clever internet ruse.
I made this comment 10 months ago. I stand by it.
Wouldn't it be funny if they were something like a child's toy, a wobbly spinning widget perhaps that you get going by placing between your palm and fingertips, slide one hand forward and let go. If it spins on the pointy end the weights (knobs) seem too high up, but maybe the other end is down? I also think of these things from time to time, often late at night when I should be asleep. 
The ONE thing we don't know.
Brett_Murphy said:
I like the geisha style hair pin theory.
The curious thing is that they all have a notch, or cut channel, close to the knobs.
I wonder if whatever they were used for involved a string wrapped around them to spin them, and the knobs are not handles but just masses to give added inertia.
(not) WilD (Matt) said:Brett_Murphy said:
I like the geisha style hair pin theory.
Me too, excepting the one in the lower right which clearly seems to be made to slip into a socket at the end. That throws some serious doubt on that theory for me. I tried to fix it by imagining interchangeable decorative ends, but it just doesn't seem right. That makes me lean toward the notion of an accessory for a spinning wheel or loom or something...
Ransom said:Me too, excepting the one in the lower right which clearly seems to be made to slip into a socket at the end. That throws some serious doubt on that theory for me. I tried to fix it by imagining interchangeable decorative ends, but it just doesn't seem right. That makes me lean toward the notion of an accessory for a spinning wheel or loom or something...
I still think that one could have had a decorative end piece. We don't have a good sense of scale on these, but they could be smaller than they seem, and many hair pins have rather large head piece ornaments made from other materials and incorporate elements like tassels. Doing a Google search for "geisha hair pins" and variations on that subbing in Japanese or wooden finds some similar looking items, but nothing exact.
Seed dibber is the closest tool resemblance that I can come up with. That doesn't explain the offset knobs, lack of wear, or acrylic one.
The mythical vertical intercluder from my youth! I never could find one in the garage when dad sent me after it.
Or perhaps the equally elusive horizontal habstabber.
It's clearly an adjustment tool for a flux capacitor. Also can be ued to adjust the flow on a Mr Fusion, hence the knobby bits.
I am wondering if this is someones attempt at Dada.
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