One family, The Robinsons, had a 6-year-old son, and when the wife ended up being pregnant with their second child, they decided to move to a bigger house in a remote area where they wanted to build a farm. As they lived in a small apartment which they rented before getting the house, they weren’t allowed to keep a pet at home, but now that they had their own place, they desperately wanted to get a dog.
Wanting to adopt a canine from a shelter, they visited some and as they were hearing all those stories of how each of the animals ended up there, they stumbled upon a shy Pit Bull named Benson.
Sadly, Benson’s life wasn’t an easy one. He was used for fighting for many years and was later dumped on the streets. When volunteers found him, he had already lost faith in humans and was afraid to even lift his head. After some time at the shelter, a family took him in but his happiness lasted for 2 weeks only. The family decided they didn’t want him because he wasn’t friendly.
Hearing this, Mrs. Robinson knew she needed to give him a chance for a better life. They adopted Benson, and although he acted strangely at first, he soon made friends with the family’s son Mathias.
When the baby was born, Benson only showed love and affection.
One night, however, the family heard a loud barking coming from the baby’s room. They rushed to see what was going on when they saw Benson biting the ribs of the crib. At first, they feared the worst as they though he wanted to hurt the little one, but he was doing just the opposite. As it turned out, the baby stopped breathing and Benson was trying to reach to her.
The family rushed her to the hospital where they were told that if Benson didn’t alert them of the baby’s condition, she would surely die. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.
When Mrs. Robinson saved his life by getting him out of the shelter, she never assumed Benson would save her child’s life in return.
Can You Guess What They Were Used For?
Today, let’s have a little game! What purpose did these vintage items serve, do you know? These enigmatic things, which range from strange equipment to unusual decorative pieces, may leave you perplexed. Don’t worry, though; try it and see if you can envision what people in earlier eras did with these fascinating objects.
First Item: The Coin Gatherer
First up, we have a mixed-metal object with connectors on the sides and slots on top. Do you know what it was used for in the past?
You’re 100% correct if you assumed it was a coin collector! Conductors of trains and buses would deposit the fares into slots and then pick up the neatly piled coins from the bottom. They could fasten it to their belts using the hooks on the sides. Remarkably, a contemporary rendition of this is still in use at a few locations where admission is free of charge. Pretty smart, huh?
The Sand-Filled Swim Cap is item #2.
This is an intriguing cap with chin straps, a blue interior, and a feminine printed pattern. Would you want to guess? Here’s a hint: it has sand inside of it!
Actually, this peculiar headgear is an antique handmade swim cap. People used to love modeling swim caps after the aviatrix fashion trend back in the 1920s. However, home sewers had trouble finding rubber ingredients. They then devised a clever fix: the cap was filled with sand, and the channels and stitches were machine-sewn.
Why the sand? As a water blocker, it lets swimmers select their own fabric pattern rather than being restricted to yellow or black rubber. Undoubtedly a novel strategy!
The Iron Flue Damper is item #3.
Now look at this iron object that has two stamps on it. Along an iron post with a spiraling end, the iron plate swivels. Any suggestions?
You’re exactly right if you assumed it to be an iron flue damper! Even though they are rarely seen, these iron flue dampers are still in use today. We enjoy finding unique artifacts that are a part of our past when we go antique shopping. It resembles going back in time!
The Victorian Shop Dispenser (Item #4)
Admire this metal box with a beveled glass front and elaborate gold stenciling. It even features a tiny sliding door with a dog picture on it. How do you suppose it was put to use?
Actually, this graceful box is a Victorian-style shop dispenser. It came in several sizes and was intended for bulk sales. This one had a label insert for gunpowder, but it may have also been used for bulk commodities like sugar or confectionery. Customers could see the quality of the products they were buying because to the glass front. Why was there a picture of dogs hunting? Well, since the purpose was to hold gunpowder exclusively, it’s merely an ornamental touch. This is a very fascinating essay, isn’t it?
The Cedar Butter Churn is item #5.
Take a look at this big wooden drum with a handle, a footed base, and a lid. There’s a crank on the side of it also. Any ideas about what it’s meant to accomplish?
This wooden drum is a butter churn made of cedar. To produce more butter, it was utilized. It says “Farm Master Dairy Supplies” on the other side. However, we didn’t want to reveal anything too quickly! Knowing about these antiquated gadgets truly transports us to a bygone era of ease.
The Soda Bottle Stand is item #6.
Look at this three-tiered metal stand for a moment. Each tier has a notch carved out of it. It is nearly four feet tall and supports itself on three legs. What was the purpose of it, do you suppose?
The purpose of this booth was to showcase Coke bottles—but not just any soda. Nehi purposely made it as part of their marketing strategy for their soda bottles. With their handy necks, the bottles fit well in the triangle shape with the notches. These stands used to be found in grocery stores and local stores during the Great Depression. They were really impressive!
There you have it, then! These enigmatic objects transport us through time and serve as a reminder of the inventiveness and resourcefulness of earlier generations. How many of those were accurate guesses, then?
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