eBay

newenglandchris · ‎01-15-2018

Does anyone know what this vintage sewing tool is for? It's 2 pieces with a knob on the side that turns and is 3.5 inches tall. Any ideas appreciated. Thank you!

a*river*runs*through*it · ‎01-15-2018

@newenglandchris

Why do you think it's for sewing?

candd205 · ‎01-15-2018

I don't think it's a sewing tool.

I think it's for putting on top of a bottle of something (like olive oil) and pour it out with that knob controlling the amount that flows.

newenglandchris · ‎01-15-2018

It was in a sewing basket

newenglandchris · ‎01-15-2018

Interesting idea, thank you

poochpadsales · ‎01-19-2018

What happens when you turn the knob? Does the thing inside rotate, it looks like a ball from the pics.

I would look up darning egg or darning tool...maybe some kind of bobbin winder? Good Luck!

poochpadsales · ‎01-19-2018

also something for spinning wool if the yarn could go through the piece lol?

lacemaker3 · ‎01-19-2018

@newenglandchris

This doesn't appear to be a sewing tool. It is not a bobbin winder, and it has nothing to do with spinning or weaving.

It is some type of a valve to control the flow of a liquid or of small particles like sand (or possibly a gas, but that is unlikely because it won't be air-tight).

argon38 · ‎01-19-2018

@poochpadsales wrote:
What happens when you turn the knob? Does the thing inside rotate, it looks like a ball from the pics.

That's the important question. If turning it does nothing more than rotate that ball inside then I don't see how it could act as a valve - it would have to be for winding (or unwinding) something.

A photo of the inside of the base/holder would be useful as well.

sonomabarn67 · ‎01-19-2018

Nutmeg grater.

argon38 · ‎01-19-2018

@sonomabarn67 wrote:
Nutmeg grater.

So the nutmeg would sit inside the holder, you'd screw on the top, and that ball (?) thing would be the grater? If so, I have two difficulties: (i) I don't see how you could grind the ball down onto the nutmeg; (ii) the ball surface doesn't look very effective as a grater.

lacemaker3 · ‎01-19-2018

@sonomabarn67 wrote:
Nutmeg grater.

I don't know .. the wooden nutmeg graters I found in a search all seem to have metal for the grating surface. I'm not sure the tiny grooves on the little wooden ball inside it would be able to grate the nutmeg.

newenglandchris · ‎01-19-2018

Thanks all for your thoughts. Here's a photo of inside the base. When you turn the knob it does just rotate the ball inside. The ball inside has shallow horizontal grooves. Since it was in a sewing kit I assumed it was used to wind/unwind something but clearly I could be wrong.

I don't think its its strong enough to grind nutmeg but maybe grinds salt? Seems small for that though.