Mystery Object

[Finn]

There's an object in my fiancee's condo that nobody knows what it is or what it does. I'm including an photo I just took with my iPhone. All we know is that it belonged to my to-be father in-law's grandmother. It would mean it probably came from the turn of the 20th Century Mississippi.

Here's the picture in question. It is about fifteen inches tall and yes, it's wooden. What the heck is it?

 

[Amaris]

Looks like a spire from the top of a wooden fence gate.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

It's a Judas Cradle. I'd look into your fiancées family history a little closer before you take the plunge.

http://www.medievality.com/judas-craddle.html

 

[Gepard]

Most. Uncomfortable. Dildo. EVER.

 

[Lookingglassman]

alien technology

 

[thestrangequark]

Most. Uncomfortable. Dildo. EVER.

The splinters! The SPLINTERS!!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Jousting Lances that Never Worked - film at 11.

 

[RandyS]

Most. Uncomfortable. Dildo. EVER.

Beat me to it.

 

[Finn]

Yeah. It didn't take long before someone said dildo

 

[TexasNightt]

Looks like a fishing bobber?

 

[Finn]

^thought of that but they usually have holes for the ropes or hooks.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I was going to say, Pinocchio's nose

 

[TexasNightt]

Looked like there is a hole at the base, perhaps not big enough, How about a spool?

 

[Candlelight]

Interociter.

 

[Sector 7]

It is the steampunk version of TNG's lava lamp propulsion.

 

[Finn]

Looked like there is a hole at the base, perhaps not big enough, How about a spool?

It's just a dark spot No holes. I've been pondering about that thing for two years now. It looks and feels like a very old piece of wood (I think it's one piece of wood).

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Duh, it's a pattern enhancer. One of the old wooden variety.

 

[6079SmithW]

Duh, it's a pattern enhancer. One of the old wooden variety.

Is it strange that as soon as I saw your name in this thread I immediately thought "pattern enhancer"?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Duh, it's a pattern enhancer. One of the old wooden variety.

Is it strange that as soon as I saw your name in this thread I immediately thought "pattern enhancer"?

My work here is done.

 

[TheGodBen]

It is an early version of a baseball bat. Back in those days, baseballs were much bigger, made of wood and impaled on the bat so as to make hitting it easier. The game was played by having the batter swing the bat and ball, then the other players would run around the field randomly and points were awarded for effort. It wasn't until 1913 that the rules were changed so that a smaller ball was thrown and the object was the hit the ball with the bat, which observers at the time claimed made the game marginally more entertaining.

At auction, I reckon you should get upwards of $1500 for it.