Guess What Article for July 2003 The Journal of Antiques & Collectibles
By Bob Cahn, “The Primitive Man”

Pandora’s Box tempted the curious. We hope this month’s GUESS WHAT does the same, though it doesn’t quite qualify. Comes close, but only because we’re slanting it that way. The similarity? Hinges and the unknown when the lid is closed. Opened, it reveals a flat surface with inlaid brass rules forming a raised or slotted grid pattern, imbedded top and bottom in a wood form.

It left an impression on our imagination. We hope it does the same for you. [Pertinent facts: base -16” x 6 3/4; handle overall – 8 1/4”; box – 6 1/4” x 4 3/4” x 3” H]

Some suggestions to help satiate your curiosity – which incidentally has the correct answer buried amongst the razzle dazzle.

Is it a:

Tic-tac-toe card printing press
Matzoh maker’s segment scoring machine
Regional map-maker’s latitude/longitude outliner
Apothecary chemist’s paper medicine packet powder dosage folding marker
Halvah maker’s section molder
Paper napkin embosser
Caterer’s cheese cube and chunking machine
Tile layer’s floor pattern layout planner
Florist’s cut flower stem crusher and long life enhancer
Geometric rectangular hamburger patty press.

Pick a good number and check back with us next month to see how you did. Till then!*

Answer to June 2003 ‘Guess What?’

Finger dexterity plus thumb and index co-ordination are the energy factors behind last month’s GUESS WHAT.

This Victorian button-hole starter’s point helped the tailor, seamstress, or home-maker penetrate the garment fabric and create a beginning hole for the scissors to complete the incision. Then the raw edges were stitched to prevent fraying.

A button-hole starter is not to be confused with a button-hole cutter – a separate device*

* available for acquisition