Tiny Mystery Piece (please read before guessing)

Discussion in 'Silver' started by Audrey Muzingo, Jan 31, 2021.

  1. EDIT; if anyone could tell me how to make photos upload it would help. None of the photos I'm trying to add is as large as 1 MB but it keeps saying 'file is too large.'
    I recently got this object in a mixed lot of small sterling items. I asked the seller what it was and he said he found it in a drawer at his grandparents' house after they both passed away, so he couldn't ask them. His guess was a needle threader.
    Here I should note: For the sake of continuity, I've labeled the parts in the photos. I purposely tried to label them as ambiguously as possible, so as not to suggest a function, only the basic shape (though I think the 'handle' is fairly obvious). See photos of the prongs/loop in their ranges of positions, by pivoting the spring on its' rod.
    Okay, so 'needle threader' appeared feasible, like if the groove on the back is for holding the needle in place, with the loop clamping it down, all you had to do was aim the thread into the fairly big hole of the cone on the front, which would funnel the thread through the pinhole, and through the needle's eye.
    But I tested it, and it definitely didn't work. Even with my shortest needle, the length of needle extending beyond the top of the disk overpowered whatever force the would-be clamp had to hold it down; the needle always toppled over.
    The other observation I made was while manipulating the 'prongs' to raise and lower the 'clamp.' --They were slightly sharp, not quite enough to painfully hurt my fingers but definitely less "finger friendly" than the 'clamp.' This makes me think that IT (the loop in the back) is the user interface, and the prongs are the real clamps, for clamping something to the front. But I don't want to be too biased so let's just say 'loop' and 'prongs.'
    I posted this object to the two best Facebook groups I've ever been in, one for sterling collectors and one for antiquers. Usually when I need help, the speed and accuracy is shocking, as both those groups include extremely knowledgeable people. But this object has EVERYONE stumped, and I mean the replies include words like "maddening" and "haunting," LOL!! Of course there are plenty of guesses, but only vague ones like "Something for sewing" and "For making eyelets" and "For stringing beads" but with no explanations of exactly how the object would operate. Some people don't even seem to have noticed how tiny it is, as they've guessed "candle snuffer" and "cocktail strainer", ha.
    So does anyone here know, or have a good guess (with a description of exactly how it would work)? Clearly the most common intuition is that it has something to do with sewing, but I'd like to throw in that it could be some other household function, or even medical or scientific. --
     
    cxgirl likes this.
  2. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    You can email photos to yourself as Medium. That will resize them.
     
  3. I don't know how to do that and is that really what it takes to upload photos here? The one I tried said it was 757 kb, far from 1 MB
     
  4. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Are you using an iPhone or other?
     
  5. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

  6. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  7. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    KikoBlueEyes likes this.
  8. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    What operating system?
     
    i need help likes this.
  9. Macbook Pro
     
  10. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Unfortunately that lets me out. I'm a Windows user. Sorry.
     
  11. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  12. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Komo - Did you not read her post? Her image files are too big! She can't use your instructions yet. Needs to find a way to resize the files.
     
  13. It doesn't even get to the part about 'thumbnail" or "full image". When I select the file it progresses for a while and then comes back with red letters saying the file is too large.
     
  14. But how is 757kb too big? I'm not very computer literate but 757kb IS smaller than 1 MB, right?
     
    blooey likes this.
  15. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    See your inbox, Audrey.
     
  16. ,
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2021
  17. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Here are some instructions for Mac. Now please tell me what happens, and I'll help you find a way.
    "In the Preview app on your Mac, open the file you want to change. Choose Tools > Adjust Size, then select “Resample image.” Enter a smaller value in the Resolution field. The new size is shown at the bottom"
     
    i need help and Bakersgma like this.
  18. Peasnquiet

    Peasnquiet Well-Known Member

    Just add the photos to the gallery section on this board rather than directly to the post - I use a Mac as well - Name the files, then create a new post and click the little camera to "media gallery imbed" the images to the post.
     
    i need help and KikoBlueEyes like this.
  19. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Tiny Mystery
Forum Title Date
Silver Help with my tiny bendy silver spoon May 15, 2024
Silver Tiny glass jars. For powder? Sterling lids. Feb 5, 2024
Silver Art Nouveau tiny spoon pendant, what was it used for? Jan 11, 2024
Silver 950 Silver tiny house with top that opens... incense?? Dec 16, 2023
Silver Tiny silver military cap Nov 30, 2023

Share This Page