I wonder if it could have been used to reach for a part of a harness or reigns. Would it reach if you were sitting in a vehicle? The hook could loop around the leather, and the toothed part could help “grab” it? Maybe you should check with the museum at Stoneybrook or the carriage association of America? They may have more specialized expertise. I think the carriage association has a library, I think, and maybe they have some trade catalogs?
Sabrina Henneman
Genesee Country Museum
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Allison Francies
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 2:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Mystery Object #2
You might be able to get some information through a patent search through google patents. Since it was marked with "Patent Applied For" there may be something with the name Morey on it.
Happy Hunting,
Allie Francies
On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 1:18 PM, Erin Crissman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hello all –
The last mystery object I posted is still a mystery. Hopefully, this one will be a little bit easier.
This object was brought in for identification by a local person (Cooperstown, NY). I believe he found it in a home he owns near town.
The photos in this link are only of the “business end.” So I will describe the rest to you:
It has a long wooden handle shaft culminating in a d-shaped handle. The handle is wood, the D-shape and ferrule are iron like the hook on the opposite end. The entire tool is 56” long and is fairly heavy and unwieldy.
The photographs show an iron hook with ball end. Through the center of the hook is a brass threaded bolt with an unusual head. I can only describe it as 1950s safety-razor in shape with small notches cut out along each flat surface. It is marked H. A. Morey/Syracuse/NY (obverse) Patent Applied For.
Morey was a Syracuse NY carriage maker from about 1890 through an unknown date. Although his catalogs show only carriages, wagons and parts, he also applied for a patent for livestock marking tags. I haven’t been able to discover much about Morey or his business, outside of the catalogs available digitally through archives.org and a short write-up in an old history of Onondaga County, NY.
Still not sure what the tool is. A Friend of the owner speculated that it was perhaps a hog catcher. The hook shape is also reminiscent of a vine de-tangler for vindards and hops. However, it is so heavy as to seem impractical for both.
Is this related to carriages or carriage- making in some way?
Here are photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/erinelizabeth62/MysteryObjectHAMoyer?feat=directlink
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
__________________
Erin Crissman
Curator
The Farmers' Museum
PO Box 30
Cooperstown, NY 13326
p: 607.547.1521
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