Per my Attic Archaeology post, I discovered many wonderful bits of family history during my exploration of the attic at Fish Hooks. I also found a couple of mystery items.
If I had to guess, I’d say the first one is some sort of grater and the second looks like some sort of industrial-strength mousetrap.
Anyone know for sure?
UPDATE: So it turns out the item immediately above is a 4-hole mousetrap, likely from the 1800s. Another fun find, though hopefully one we won’t have a use for.
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The top one looks like a cheese grater almost.
Yes, that’s what we think, too – a homemade grater. Pretty resourceful of them to make it, though it must have required patience to make all those nail holes. 🙂
The first one could be an unfinished lamp. It looks similar to one from David’s great grandparents house. Will send you a photo
Ooh, yes, please do. I did wonder about that at one point, because I have seen votive candle holders that have similar textures…
The first is definitely a homemade coconut grater. Patiently made by driving a 16 d (sixteen penny) nail into a sheet of tin several hundred times in a distinct pattern. This one looks somewhat unfinished. Normally the completed grater was nailed along two sides to a piece of pine board for stability, as the grater rested on the inside of a large pan so that the grated coconut (potato,cassava, etc.) could be collected. I recall my mother, your Aunt Olive, having one which my father had made for her.
The second pic. is that of a ‘four-holer’ mouse trap.
You are living out one of my great passions – rummaging through old attics. Love your Blog.
Hi, Robert. A coconut grater! That makes perfect sense. I was thinking cheese probably wasn’t that common back in the day, so I wondered what they’d be grating. This piece may at some point have been attached to something, or at the very least have had handles. I’ll check next time I’m there. Thanks for the tip!
So glad you’re enjoying the blog. I’m always finding out interesting historical tidbits when we’re in GTC (and especially now that we own my great-grandparents’ house), and it’s great to be able to share them with others.
I thought it was some sort of a grater as right away I thought of a small ancient nutmeg grater I have.
Pretty neat finds
I thought so, too. Can’t wait to get some of them cleaned up and displayed in our house.