This one comes from loyal reader Jo, a devoted member of the Greater Dover Historical Society.
What is this item?
It was found in a barn in the Dover area and donated to the society. It's fairly small, but very heavy for its size.
Any ideas? Leave us a comment. I'm at a loss; someone earlier had suggested a harness of some sort and while I could see that (with the chain at the one end), it seems odd that you'd use something so heavy.
Help!
It almost reminds me of a lawnmower. How big is it (it looks small enough near the letter)? Do the pieces move? Any markings? I'm so curious!
Jeanne: It is small--about 16"X10" +/- and is very heavy. The only markings I remember seeing are numbers on the sides--35 is one, which makes me believe it has something to do with weights. I have to be in Dover tonight and since you've asked I'll drop by the fair and see if any other markings are visible and copy them down. The four wheels--if that's what they are--do not seem to move unless they're so badly rusted they can't.
Okay--it is 10"X13" and has two markings. The number 35 is stamped on the outside of both rear "wheels." The number 55A is stamped on the front ones. The wheels are screwed into the cross bars front and back and do not appear to ever have moved and there's a short yoke at the front end whioh still has a small remnant of rope inside it.