Help! I have a cool, rusty metal object and I don’t know what it is. It is about 6″ long with a hole at each end and near the center (slightly offset) is a section that pulls out about half an inch. I discovered this object in a shallow ravine not far from a rusty old bedspring and what looked like an axle from a car.

I’m fairly certain that this was an old dump from an early homesteader. I’m basing that on the fragments of sun-colored-amethyst glass (manufactured primarily from the 1880s through the 1910s) that I found nearby.

Is it perhaps some kind of handle? Since my memory doesn’t stretch back that far I thought I’d ask for suggestions. Any ideas?

Last year on May 30th I volunteered to help the crew film Antiques Roadshow here in Tucson. The first of three episodes finally aired on 03-28-16, the second on 04-04-16, and the final one should air on 04-11-16.

It was a very looong day, exacerbated by a small electrical fire that morning. I was on my feet from 6:30am until 7:30 that night! It was well worth it to meet the appraisers, watch the process, and see all the treasures folks brought in.

Did you know the appraisers are also volunteering? They do it for free, reaping the benefit of their names and company information broadcast on PBS. It is one of the highest rated series on PBS. Only the film/production crew members are paid (it is public television after all and the budget is tight).

As a volunteer I was permitted to bring in two items to get appraised. I now know that there is no danger of anyone selling off our family heirlooms – they aren’t worth a darn thing!