I appreciate everyone's input!.. We have a few smudge pots here, and they
are huge things.. About 4 feet high.  We thought it was some kind of
container for gas or oil, but weren't sure. I agree with Becky and think it
is this some type of old gas tank..  It has some type of pin it the top..
But this could be where it connected to the engine..  I will show these pics
to our collections curator..
Thanks so much!

> Hi,
> 
> I can't resist a mystery, so here's my solution:
> 
> Given the size, I'd guess that it's an old gas tank from a lawn tractor. You
> can see a similar gas tank on a Clinton engine on Ebay:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63949&item=7501390288
> &rd=1 (If this item isn't available by the time you visit the link, email me
> for the photos - I downloaded and saved them.)
> 
> And several other similar garden tractor engine diagrams/drawings can be
> found at:
> http://www.geocities.com/pigeonopps/clinton/engines.html
> 
> Becky Fitzgerald
> Executive Director
> Susquehanna Museum
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Aaron Goldblatt
> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 8:16 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Item identification/farm-orchard related?
> 
> I can't help myself ...  I have no expertise in this area whatsoever, but
> it's too tempting.  Is there enough residue of anything inside the tank to
> swab and analyze?  It looks vaguely like some sort of pressure vessel, so it
> could be missing the pump & spray mechanism for a mister of some kind -
> insecticide?
> Aaron
> 
> Aaron Goldblatt
> Metcalfe Architecture & Design
> 211 North 13th Street, Suite 503
> Philadelphia, PA  19107
> 215-557-9200 p
> 215-557-8383 f
> [log in to unmask]
> www.metarchdesign.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Lucy Sperlin
> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 7:31 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Item identification/farm-orchard related?
> 
> 
> Definitely not a smudge pot unless they used something very different than
> those used here in the Sacramento Valley orchards.  They were much large,
> and upright....more like  portable camping heater. They held oil, and the
> one shown doesn't have a container large enough to make enough heat to keep
> the frost away.
> 
> Lucy Sperlin
> Chico Museum Association
> Patrick Ranch
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Amanda Thompson
> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 1:16 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Item identification/farm-orchard related?
> 
> The size and shape is the same as a hanging butter churn in our collection,
> although our butter churn has a wider opening at the top and a wire handle
> from which to hang the churn.
> 
> Amanda Dyer
> Curator
> Bell County Museum
> Belton, TX
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Nancy L Lynch
> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 2:37 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Item identification/farm-orchard related?
> 
> 
> Smudge pot for heating an orchard during a freeze, I think... :)
> Nancy Lynch
> Exhibits Curator
> City of Greeley Museums
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of David Lynx
> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 12:38 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Item identification/farm-orchard related?
> 
> Now I have one of those "what is this" questions.  This item belonged to
> and
> orchardist.. But may not necessarily be agriculturally related.  We are
> curious what it might be.. Images can be found here
> 
> 
> http://yakimavalleymuseum.org/paul/
> 
> David Lynx
> 
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