Help aging walking canes (part 4!)

Hi,

I think this is probably the newest cane in the lot. Has plastic eyes and a rubber stopper. Not sure wood type so any help would be great.

Any ideas when rubber stoppers came into production? Would help with future buys.

Thanks

 

The stopper is called the ferrule. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they're a pretty recentish (well-into-20th century) invention. Prior to that, ferrules were made of iron or steel.

 

Yeah, think it's probably 50s or later the rubber furrule came into play.

This cane could be 10 years old or 50 years old. Has a decent amount of wear to it but not sure how you'd tell the difference?

 

Questions and thoughts . . .

1) How did you determine that the eyes are plastic?

2) I don't think you can judge the age on the tip being rubber.
They were often replaced when they became too worn to be useful, or were lost in some way.

3) the handle looks hand carved - albeit in a rather simple way.

 

As Messilane said, You can buy replacement rubber tips for canes so that could be a replacement and I don't think it would help with dating it.

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...#q=rubber+tip+replacements+for+canes&tbm=shop

 

yeah - I buy them in bulk I go through one about every 3 months in the nice weather when I can get out and about more.

 

Hi, Thanks for getting back.

I determined they were plastic rather than glass by tapping them with my finger nail. Sound and feel told me they were plastic.

It is carved but is simply done. Is nice though.

I'm thinking about help me age them as if it had a metal tip would you replace it with a newer rubber one or would you replace it with a newer metal one? I'd stick with original material, even if it's newer so thinking it started off with rubber one so is probably a newer cane than I'd like it to be. If that rambling makes sense! Ha

 

Canes that really got used often had rubber tips put on them regardless of what was originally there. Have you tried to take it off to see if there is evidence of a different tip at one point? I think this has some age to it. Maybe 30s-40s with those glass/plastic eyes.

 

Replacing metal tips is not as easy as it would seem.
If someone was doing it at home, and rubber was now available, I bet they would opt for rubber.

 

Thanks guys, that's great help.

I'll have an attempt at removal, but don't want to damage it. I've looked with a uv light to see if there is any glue (presume thete would be in a replacement)

How would I tell if they are plastic or glass? Is there a better test than my finger tip?

 

This one's my favorite! I know more about birds than woods. He could be either a duck, or raven... maybe a bower bird (they actually do have blue eyes) but the beak's kinda small. Probably just artistic enthusiasm, and a generic "bird". I love this!

 

Well it is for sale gila it reminds me of a water bird, but not sure why. Think it was probably just a generic bird carved as best they could I guess.

It is a nice cane. So tactile and well loved

 

I wouldn't dare to have a can handy, Matt, for fear I'd use it on my ol' man...

or vice versa.

 

Ha! It's not a weapon cane so sure you'd be fine! Ha

 

You don't know me and my ol' man!
I did make it my screen-saver, though!

 

Thank you, Mattiques...
Folks, I couldn't resist bringing this bird to America... so I bought it from Matt (and thanks for the encouraging counsel from many of you... you know who you are). The bird is 1930-40, with curious blue glass/plastic eyes. And may I say Matt's service was absolutely gentlemanly! Oh, those Brits!
Anyway...
May I show y'all a couple of photos? Matt's were just fine, but is there any better view than that of the smitten love? Look at my boy's straight-on gaze... beady little eyes professing eternal fascination and adoration. I originally liked it for my ol' man, who uses a cane, but DIDN'T LIKE BLUE-EYES HERE...
I'll keep "Blue Eyes" until *I* get a limp. HMPH!

 

Good for you, Gila! He's very cute!

 

Thank you, Abuela!
My beady-blue-eyed little paramour!

 

YAY!!!!!

 

Blue eyed bird!