Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Ellis · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:34 pm Post subject: Mystery object

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For years I have been unintentionally coming across this "thing" in one of the remoter and unused drawers in my garage.
In the plastic handle there is a small compartment and inside it there is a flint like item and this is shown removed and displayed.

I have asked a few people and the best answer I've received is "it's a thing o' purpose" which doesn't help.

Any ideas anybody?[/img]
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

Peter_L · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:52 pm Post subject:

It moves ?

Ellis · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:56 pm Post subject:

Peter_L · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:22 pm Post subject:

An early-ish field gun/canon fuse igniter ?

Or if the end is removable and perforated, a lighter for use in large houses where several lamps would be lit in a room/s. ?

Ellis · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:25 pm Post subject:

traction39 · Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 399 Location: South Wales

A later gas lamp lighter. Earlier Victorian ones were a nice piece of "scientific" kit!
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Alistair

Citroen Light 15 1953, "12" 1939,
Riley 9 Special 1932

Ellis · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 12:12 pm Post subject:

Penguin45 · Joined: 28 Jul 2014 Posts: 384 Location: Padiham

The wheel at the end will be an abrasive, so it's rotated against the flint. The top arm should move a lot further than 2mm if you look at the pivot points. Derived from the 16/17thC wheel lock mechanism.

P45.
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'67 Wolseley MkI 18/85, '70 Austin MkII 1800 The Landcrab Forum.

MVPeters · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA

Yes, you can still get something similar for lighting BBQ grilles or oxy torches. No batteries!
Maybe the handle is to hold spare flints.
The main arm may be hollow, perhaps a spring inside, like loading a stapler?
Repeated squeezes on the trigger should result in a shower of sparks.
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Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

Peter_L · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:16 pm Post subject:

I found a few examples similar.

Sold for $29.

Then
http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-121580/antique-primitive-lighter-flint-products-co-brooklyn-ny.html

As to who, where and when not 100% sure yet, but they seem to turn up on U.S Antique sites.

Google Keywords... Flint Gas Lighter Edwardian Antique, came up with these and a few others

Any chance the handle is ivory or bone ?

http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Tell-if-IVORY-is-Genuine-or-Not-Includes-Pics-/10000000010311348/g.html

Ellis · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject:

Peter_L · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:01 pm Post subject:

Isn't there a town in North Wales that is known for them ??

Laughing

Ellis · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:37 pm Post subject:

roverdriver · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:33 am Post subject:

If you find a smoker who uses thow-away gas cigarette lighters, follow him around and collect his discarded lighters. The flints in them are made much longer than necessary for the amount of gas, so there is usually quite a length of flint left when the gas is exhausted. You will need to disassemble the lighter to get the flint, but then I find uses for the springs that are inside them too.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

kevin2306 · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 11:00 am Post subject:

You can still buy zippo flints, would one of them fit?
If you need a size. I have a few old zippo lighters so could take one apart and have a look

Kev