Ask Me Help Desk - What could this be?

I have a kitchen gadget of some sort that was handed down to me by my great grandmother. I'm in my 40's, so it has to be quite old. I can't quite figure out what it was used for. It has a ceramic (could even be marble) cylinder, about a foot tall. It has a stick in one end.

It almost looks like an old rolling pin, but without the handle on both both ends. I would have thought it was used to crush spices or something like that, because the stick moves up and down, but it has a hole in the other end. My other thought was that it could have once had a cork, but the stick doesn't go right to the bottom.

Any idea's what this might be?

Oh, how I love to scour the Salvation Army thrift stores and Goodwill Industry stores for unusual kitchen items! I have no idea right now what you have could be. But, if you might be able to provide an image or images of it here, maybe we could figure it out.

I love it when people come over to my home; take a look in my kitchen and ask "What's that for?" Sometimes I can answer them with the correct answer. Other times, it's "I don't know. But, isn't it interesting?" Sometimes there are people who come over who know exactly for what purpose an item might be used.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Oh, how I love to scour the Salvation Army thrift stores and Goodwill Industry stores for unusual kitchen items! I have no idea right now what you have could be. But, if you might be able to provide an image or images of it here, maybe we could figure it out.

I love it when people come over to my home; take a look in my kitchen and ask "What's that for?" Sometimes I can answer them with the correct answer. Other times, it's "I don't know. But, isn't it interesting?" Sometimes there are people who come over who know exactly for what purpose an item might be used.

I love old things that are hard to figure out what they may have been used for too! (by the way, you're up late my dear, lol)

This thing just boggles my mind! I'm a little computer illererate when it comes to attaching pics. Friend4U was suppose to give me my next lesson on Sunday, and he backed out on me, hehe!

I'll see what I can do to put a pic up. ;)

You and I would probably have a blast! I luuuvvv going around to thrift shops and antique stores... even garage sales to see what treasures I can find!

Do you have a digital camera? Yeah, we would probably have a blast looking for stuff! :)

I do have one, that unfortunately I need to get batteries for and I keep forgetting. I even have a prob getting them from the camera into a file though. Drives me nuts! I know it can't be that hard! Until a few weeks ago (thanks to friend) I couldn't even understand how to copy and paste, lol. I had my ex, my bro, another friend... all try and show me, and they all made it so complicated. 'Friend' told me in simple form, on here, exactly how to do it, and I've been a copy and paste fool ever since! LOL!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Do you have a digital camera? Yeah, we would probably have a blast looking for stuff! :)

I really do need to learn how to put pics up! Niki wants to be an AMHD star, lol ;)

I do know what you mean about copy and paste! Even though I knew how to do it long before joining this site, Curlyben had used the term C&P in a private message to me, and I had no clue as to what he meant! Until a tech set me up or cable a number of years ago, I had no idea how to copy and paste. (I'm not on cable anymore due to the cost, by-the-way.)

Concerning your being able to post images on this site, I'm going to let jrebel7 know about this thread. She's really great with describing the details as to how to do it!

Hey there Starbuck8!

As requested, I will give it my best shot as to how to post images. I tend to be an "A to Z" person so please don't be offended by my step by step. I may post on two posts. I type like I talk... a lot! LOL

Have you saved these images to a file on your computer? You should have a file folder perhaps 'MY PICTURES" where you can save images. If the images are attachments on your e-mails, you should be able to left click to choose each, right click and and it will give you the option to open or save as. Click on "Save As" and it will give you the options of where you can save it.....you should see My Documents, My Music, My pictures, etc. Best to save in "My Pictures" as a .jpg file. If you click on My Documents, you should see as you scroll down, a yellow folder that says "My Pictures" on the list. Open that folder to "Save your image as" and type in name then click enter. It will save it in that folder. Again, be sure you save it as a .jpg file which will be at the bottom of that box that comes up.

Bring up "MY PICTURES" folder where you image is saved. Left click on image once (this chooses it, does not open it) then right click on it. Run your cursor over "OPEN WITH", it should show you several choices...if you see Microsoft Photo Editor, left click to open. Your image will show up in that program on your screen. At the top of that screen, you will see File, Edit, View, Image, etc. Left click on IMAGE, it should have a drop down box giving options, left click on "RESIZE" There will be a box that appears that shows the size of your image. On the right side it will show UNITS.....on the drop down box you can choose inches or pixels, choose pixels. Then change to size you want.

Once you have done this, PLEASE go to File and choose "SAVE AS"...you can name that image the same as original but add the word at the end as resized. That way you retain the larger image but also have one you can post. If you want the image to be fairly large, you can go with the 750 pixels, I have used 600 but generally choose 400. That is just personal preference.

On this site, when you choose "GO ADVANCED", that is where you can add the image and to do so, the image cannot be larger than 750 pixels. On mine, whatever is largest, height or width, I change it to 400 and the smaller measure changes automatically. As long as the largest dimension, whether height or width is not over 750 pixels, the image should upload nicely. Your choice of size up to 750. You click on Manage Attachements then hit "Browse", find your image, hit upload. It will show list of images you have uploaded. When finsihed, type your text you desire and then clck on "Submit Answer".

I hope this is helpful. I will be away from computer for a few hours but back later. If I have not made something clear, feel free to ask questions. I could have left out a step but I sure hope not. Looking forward to seeing your images posted. :p

(I am in a rush to get out the door. Any questions, just let me know. I will try to clarify. It took other's helping me to know how to post images. I really appreciated their help. Much luck.

YIKES!! LOL! I'll give it a go Rebby. I do know how to get to my pics, so that part isn't a prob. My other problem is getting them off my camera to begin with, but my Dad should be home soon, and he actually gave me the camera when he bought a new one, so I will ask him one more time to go through that part with me. He's done it before, but he's one of those computer guys that thinks you are understanding everything he is doing so he whips right through. I tried to write down the steps last time, but he wouldn't slow down enough for me to get it all straight on paper!

We'll see how it goes. I don't have much in my pics right now, just a few of Niki, but when I have time I'll try and follow your guide!

Thanks for taking the time to try and explain all of that Reb! Have a good Eve! :)

Hey Starby! If I can help tonight just let me know. I will be here for a bit! :)

Thanks Rebby, I didn't have time to do it tonight, and since my parents finally found their way back from FL after a 7 day drive, I'll probably be a bit busy catching up with everything.

They are "snowbirds", and go to FL every yr for the past 15 yrs or so, and had a bit of a hair raising time coming back this yr. Had all of us kids worried a bit too because of the bad weather. (funny no matter how old you get you still call yourself their 'kids' eh? lol)

I will get back to you soon though. My Dad is a big computer geek, so I'll have him show me how to get the pics in here to begin with, and then since you have the patience, I'll go with you from there! ;) Thanks again for the help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by starbuck8

Thanks Rebby, I didn't have time to do it tonight, and since my parents finally found their way back from FL after a 7 day drive, I'll probably be a bit busy catching up with everything.

They are "snowbirds", and go to FL every yr for the past 15 yrs or so, and had a bit of a hair raising time coming back this yr. Had all of us kids worried a bit too because of the bad weather. (funny no matter how old you get you still call yourself their 'kids' eh?, lol)

I will get back to you soon though. My Dad is a big computer geek, so I'll have him show me how to get the pics in here to begin with, and then since you have the patience, I'll go with you from there! ;) Thanks again for the help.

Your welcome Starby!

I am so glad your parents are safe. These parents sure can cause us "kids" to worry, cant' they?? LOL I bet they would get a kick out of our "virtual" party! :p or not. :eek:

I will be happy to help you anytime you are ready! Blessings! :p
Good Night and Sweet Dreams!

Starby,
I found a link with history of old paraphanelia,maybe it has a pic of what you have at home... just maybe.
Kitchen antiques, culinary objects, historic kitchen equipment

Thanks Firmy! (can I call you Firmy? lol) I'll check it out and let you know if I see anything. Have been having probs with my camera now, so getting a pic up here is proving to be harder than I thought!

Starby,
I am glad to be of help...
Happy to hear your parents made it there safely:)

And yes you can call me firmy!:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by firmbeliever

Starby,
I am glad to be of help...
happy to hear your parents made it there safely:)

and yes you can call me firmy!:)

Great research finding links as usual! Ok, guess I better go with Firmy! Easier. I usually type FirmB! :) So it is Starby, Firmy and Rebby! The three musketeers or musketeeresses as the case may be. :p

I did go to the link but not having a clear image in my head what I am looking for, did not locate item. I know Starby is having a difficult time with her camera getting images on so Starby, let us know if you find the item. I love the older items and occasionally find one that really baffles me. This will be a great link to use for later also. Thanks Firmy!

I really enjoyed looking through that site Firmy. :) There was some pretty cool stuff on there!

Sadly, I couldn't find anything that even closely resembles what I have. A friend came by to visit yesterday, and I asked him his impression of what it might be. He said he thought he may had seen something similar at his grandparents home when he was a little kid. He is going to describe it to his mom, and if it sounds familiar I will just let him take it and show her the next time he comes around.

Sorry about my camera not working now Rebby, after you took all of that time to try and explain all of that to me. I tried to ask my mom today if she could remember what it was used for, and she said she will take a good look at it next week. when they come to town.(they live about 45 mls away out at a lake in the middle of nowhere)

They are having such problems because they don't have regular phone service out there right now. My Dad has a Ham Radio tower that supplies the phone service/sattelite etc for the whole communtiy.

Because of a really bad wind storm last Oct, half of the tower fell down on top of their house and did a lot of damage. Since they were leaving for FL. they ended up having to leave the job of fixing the house and putting the tower back up to my brother and some of their friends at the lake.

Well, most of the lake people left to come back to their homes in town for the winter, and there was hardly anyone left in the lake community. My brother hired companies to come and repair everything, and it seems like no one did their job.

Now they are stuck out at the lake because all of this crazy snow makes it hard to get out of the community. (they get the snow and storms even worse than we get it here) So now they have no phone service (except for a cell phone that barely gets a signal unless they drive to the main road), no internet service, no satellite (tv) service, and now that the snow is starting to melt, they are dealing with leaks in the house because the companies hired didn't do their job with fixing the holes in the roof, and didn't put the tower back up correctly! It's a real gong show!. and they are stuck for the time being without any services out there.

Sorry you guys!. lol. I just went off on a little bit of a rant there, on a thread where I asked about an antique item... hahahaha!

I think we need another doggie dancing party tonight! Are you guys game? ;) Stop on by if you are. Rebby, I'll make up the couch again for you k? I still have your virtual piano... I'll shine it up for you, and get out the snacks and treats!

Firmy, I don't think you've joined us yet. Come on in, bring any pets you have, and we'll dance the night away again! Hopefully all the animals behave themselves this time. Kevin our Kangaroo will once again be our bouncer! Bring your music and one of the DJ's will be sure to play it! :D

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/mental...og-199850.html

Sorry Rebby... that's not your piano, it's Cloughs! Oh I get so confused, lol Bring your guitar girl. I'll wait for the sound of your Harley! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by starbuck8

Sorry Rebby...that's not your piano, it's Cloughs! Oh I get so confused, lol Bring your guitar girl. I'll wait for the sound of your Harley! ;)

Hey Starby! I will be there tonight. Just may get a little late start. I'll bring my guitar but have to ride the Honda! Hope the party is still going on when I get there. If not, I'll just park myself on your couch again if that's okay and we can visit in the morning! I'll help clean up again while we catch up on what went on. Hope firmy gets to come to this one. Catch you later! :p

Thanks for the invite Starby,
No pets in my home at the moment :(.

Hope things work out soon enough for your parents.