Hazard A Guess: Week of July 18, 2002

Hello from Hazard!

Well, it’s about “time” we received responses to one of our gadgets. I was eagerly “watching” the mailbag to get the responses from Item No. 653 – even if I had to stay up all “night.”

We didn’t leave too many readers scratching their heads, if the early response is any indication of the number of readers who knew what it was: a night watchman’s clock, with eight keys for different checkpoints. Reader Kevin Kloss of Columbiana, Ohio, explains that as the night watchman made his rounds, he would turn the numbered keys, marking a time on a tape inside the clock. The keys had to be used at locations throughout the area to be patrolled, so the company could confirm that the watchman was doing his duty, and also to use as proof in insurance claims. Our particular item was made by the Waltham Company of Chicago.

James Cogar of Canton, Ohio, also knew what it was, as did L. Howell of Beach City, Ohio; Linda Croson of New Lyme, Ohio; Paulette Boley, Kimbolton, Ohio; Robert Haas, Navarre, Ohio; and Dave Schumacher of Imperial, Pa. I’m sure we’ll hear from other readers, but it’s “time” for our deadline for this week.

Be sure to check out this week’s item, which came from Gailey Henderson of Williamstown, W.Va. He used his pocket knife to give perspective in the photograph (so don’t guess “it’s a pocket knife!”).

If you know what it is, send your answers to: Hazard a Guess, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460; or via e-mail to: editorial@farmanddairy.com.