Need help indentifying please

inquiring one · 10-16-2014, 04:35 PM

I would like to know what this item is, and what it is used for. The stone end on the handle has me curious. Thank you.

Guiness · 10-16-2014, 04:41 PM

The urn gets filled with kerosene or similar and the white stone soaks it up, light it and place in fireplace under wood.

HomeWood · 10-16-2014, 04:43 PM

My grandparents had one of those. I want to say I remember seeing it near the fireplace but for the life of me can't remember what it was for.

Edit: Guiness answered it. I don't ever recall it being used though. It just sat there for decor I guess.

Slickcraft · 10-16-2014, 05:21 PM

I would never have guessed. Here is one on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Cast...item4d25e2037e

RLW · 10-16-2014, 08:36 PM

Great little gadget, but not sure if I would like kerosene that close to an open fire even if it is in a fireplace.

What if the cow kicks it over???

upthesaukee · 10-16-2014, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLW

Great little gadget, but not sure if I would like kerosene that close to an open fire even if it is in a fireplace.

What if the cow kicks it over???

..That could never happen, Mrs. O'Leary

.

gillygirl · 10-16-2014, 08:58 PM

Never had an issue or a concern when we had a fireplace. Now that we shoved a pellet stove insert into the fireplace, we use it for the outdoor fireplace.

mcdude · 10-17-2014, 07:14 AM

hmmm..I would've guessed that it's what a priest uses to sprinkle holy water!!

.

Kamper · 10-17-2014, 08:27 AM

I would have thought it was for mulling wine and cider.

I'd think it safer to just sprinkle a little kero on the wood rather than have a flaming torch. Life might get too exciting if you didn't let it cool down enough before dropping it back into the pot! Either way, there are much safer ways to get your fire-place lit.

Does it have an odor?

skprbob · 10-17-2014, 08:59 AM

Guiness does have it right. I remember my family having one of these when I was a kid. Kamper mentions a legitimate concern about putting the hot stone back into the pot - that is solved by the ingenious design of the pot. If one looks inside, I'd bet that the pot has two chambers. One holds the kerosene, the other is kept empty. The empty side provides a place to put the hot stone. After is cools off, it is then moved to the full side to soak up the fuel for use in starting the next fire.

jetlag100 · 10-17-2014, 06:59 PM

My Aunt passed away last spring and my Mom got to go to her house and collect a few things...she remembered my Uncle and I always starting the fire with one of these, so she got it, and gave it to me...I was thrilled to have it. It's almost identical to yours..

gillygirl · 10-18-2014, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skprbob

Guiness does have it right. I remember my family having one of these when I was a kid. Kamper mentions a legitimate concern about putting the hot stone back into the pot - that is solved by the ingenious design of the pot. If one looks inside, I'd bet that the pot has two chambers. One holds the kerosene, the other is kept empty. The empty side provides a place to put the hot stone. After is cools off, it is then moved to the full side to soak up the fuel for use in starting the next fire.

Pot only has one chamber. For me, the bigger fear is the dog knocking it over and kerosene getting all over the hearth.

mcdude · 10-18-2014, 11:41 AM

Holy water would be much safer!....wouldn't do much for the fire though

Sue Doe-Nym · 10-19-2014, 07:50 AM

A dog will not knock one over since they are cast iron, low, and quite heavy. We have two of them and they work great as a substitute or supplement for kindling.

gillygirl · 10-19-2014, 09:02 AM

You've never met my dog! 😁

Misha888 · 10-20-2014, 01:50 PM

That guy on eBay is all excited about the traffic that is being pushed his way . . . he is now thinking "I'm finally going to sell this thing". Nope. Though I must admit, I love unique antiques.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I would never have guessed. Here is one on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Cast...item4d25e2037e

10-16-2014, 04:35 PM	#1
inquiring one Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: NH Posts: 58 Thanks: 46 Thanked 29 Times in 11 Posts	Need help indentifying please I would like to know what this item is, and what it is used for. The stone end on the handle has me curious. Thank you. Attached Images

10-16-2014, 04:41 PM	#2
Guiness Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 63 Thanks: 25 Thanked 11 Times in 7 Posts	Fire starter The urn gets filled with kerosene or similar and the white stone soaks it up, light it and place in fireplace under wood.

10-16-2014, 08:36 PM	#5
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	Great little gadget, but not sure if I would like kerosene that close to an open fire even if it is in a fireplace. What if the cow kicks it over??? __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

10-16-2014, 08:58 PM	#7
gillygirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 761 Thanks: 769 Thanked 308 Times in 204 Posts	Never had an issue or a concern when we had a fireplace. Now that we shoved a pellet stove insert into the fireplace, we use it for the outdoor fireplace. __________________ GG

10-17-2014, 07:14 AM	#8
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	hmmm..I would've guessed that it's what a priest uses to sprinkle holy water!! . __________________

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10-16-2014, 04:43 PM	#3
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	My grandparents had one of those. I want to say I remember seeing it near the fireplace but for the life of me can't remember what it was for. Edit: Guiness answered it. I don't ever recall it being used though. It just sat there for decor I guess.

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10-16-2014, 05:21 PM	#4
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,309 Thanks: 1,227 Thanked 2,098 Times in 957 Posts	I would never have guessed. Here is one on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Cast...item4d25e2037e

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10-17-2014, 08:27 AM	#9
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,307 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	I would have thought it was for mulling wine and cider. I'd think it safer to just sprinkle a little kero on the wood rather than have a flaming torch. Life might get too exciting if you didn't let it cool down enough before dropping it back into the pot! Either way, there are much safer ways to get your fire-place lit. Does it have an odor?

10-17-2014, 08:59 AM	#10
skprbob Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 19 Mile Bay Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 90 Times in 29 Posts	Guiness does have it right. I remember my family having one of these when I was a kid. Kamper mentions a legitimate concern about putting the hot stone back into the pot - that is solved by the ingenious design of the pot. If one looks inside, I'd bet that the pot has two chambers. One holds the kerosene, the other is kept empty. The empty side provides a place to put the hot stone. After is cools off, it is then moved to the full side to soak up the fuel for use in starting the next fire.

10-17-2014, 06:59 PM	#11
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	My Aunt passed away last spring and my Mom got to go to her house and collect a few things...she remembered my Uncle and I always starting the fire with one of these, so she got it, and gave it to me...I was thrilled to have it. It's almost identical to yours..

10-18-2014, 11:41 AM	#13
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	Holy water would be much safer!....wouldn't do much for the fire though __________________

10-19-2014, 07:50 AM	#14
Sue Doe-Nym Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,427 Thanks: 745 Thanked 791 Times in 414 Posts	A dog will not knock one over since they are cast iron, low, and quite heavy. We have two of them and they work great as a substitute or supplement for kindling.

10-19-2014, 09:02 AM	#15
gillygirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 761 Thanks: 769 Thanked 308 Times in 204 Posts	You've never met my dog! 😁 __________________ GG

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