Hazard A Guess: Week of April 4, 2002

Hello from Hazard!

More readers correctly identified Item No. 643, which we unveiled last week as a black powder wedge log splitter. We heard from: Richard McCloskey of Jamestown, Pa., who used the tool back in 1947 while harvesting pulpwood in central Pennsylvania; Robert Shamp, Bear Lake, Pa.; Richard Bell, Beaver, Pa.; Don Morey, Union City, Pa.; and Ted Kocur and Mike Peterson, Frewsburg, N.Y.

Item No. 644, first featured last week, was a pointy-shaped, funnel bucket with no hole in the bottom. Several readers told us it is a railroad bucket that held sand to fight fires, although at least one reader said the bucket could be used in shops or factories for the same purpose.

Thanks to the following readers for their prompt responses: Gary Shaffer, Kingsville, Ohio; Eugene Halliwill, Ashland, Ohio; and L. Howell, Beach City, Ohio.

Our thanks to Wayne Cooper of Fombell, Pa., for sharing the photograph.

Item No. 645 comes from Carl Stokes of Jefferson, Ohio. He tells us that the spear-like object has a trip inside the handle to release a lock on the point.

Do you know what it was used for? Send your answers to: Hazard a Guess, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460; or via e-mail to: editorial@farmanddairy.com.

You can also send us a clear photograph of “hazard” items you have at your home or in your sheds. Send the photograph (no Polaroids, please), along with a detailed description as to the item’s size and use to the address listed above.

Don’t forget you can go online to www.farmanddairy.com and catch the last four weeks’ worth of Hazard a Guess columns. Just click on the “Hazard a Guess” link along the left side.