Featured What could this thing be?

Got this from my grandfathers stuff after he passed away. Any clue as to what it is? No makers mark or date stamps.

 

If all the metal things come out when the top is lifted, it appears to be a novelty cigarette dispenser disguised as a soda syphon.

 

Interesting. Any idea who could have manufactured it?

 

Some men in a shed somewhere.

 

Just a wild-eyed guess but . . . it looks like some sort of a handheld "mixer"/liquid container to me. I'm thinking the sharp "blades?" shown in the photo would go down into the contained to "whirl" around inside and "mix" whatever was in the base OR would "chunk/semi-pulverize" ice cubes inside a drink to "mix" the beverage.

Sort of like a "cocktail shaker" but with a "mixing" element thrown in by the "blades."

But like I said, just a wild-eyed guess.

 

Would not surprise me hah

 

Agree with AF on this. A cigarette dispenser. We would call the form a soda or seltzer bottle on this side of the pond. I would suspect that this was made somewhere in the middle or far East.

 

Ohhhhh, "I see" said the near-sighted person -- what I thought were "blades" actually have a long "indentation" to cradle a cigarette when it is "folded" back into the "container."

Whoa doggies, learn something new each day.

 

If it is a cigarette holder, could the top lever activate a lighter with the flame coming from the spout?

JesseL does the top come off or apart to load lighter fluid?

 

No it's one solid piece, I was looking at it hoping to find one.

 

Another on Eboo, many photos but no more facts. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-195...-Of-Soda-Syphon-Coffe-Table-Bar-/381220257007

Glad AF was able to shed some light on the origin.

 

Yup that's the exact thing. Too bad it doesn't have more info on manufacturer and such

 

In almost all cases, the exact maker of some antique or old item is quite immaterial. The thing itself must stand or fall on its merits, design, workmanship, utility, beauty, all things that can be established without knowing if it was made by B Brothers or A and Sons.

Some few makers add significant cachet and value, but these are usually easily established.

Hence my shed comments all over the place, it is a search for something of no meaning, since in most cases, with the makers utterly forgotten, they might as well be any other utterly forgotten people, the generic men in sheds.

The last couple of decades have hammered 'brand name' into people's minds so firmly they cannot forget them when they are meaningless.

 

Well said sir

 

Bob?