Hello from Hazard!
We received one more correct answer from Dr. Richard Werstler to Item No. 837, the “cow poke”, which was placed around an animal’s neck to discourage it from “riding” or stretching a fence. Many thanks to all who wrote or e-mailed.
* * *
And readers didn’t disappoint with Item No. 838, either. It is a pottery meat tenderizer. The particular model we featured was shared by Les Howell of Beach City, Ohio, and is marked that it was patented Dec. 25, 1877.
Readers who correctly identified the tenderizer include: Emanuel H. Yoder, Baltic, Ohio; Dave Cover, Cortland, Ohio; Mike Pell, Cranberry Township, Pa.; and Maxine Sharrock, West Lafayette, Ohio. All Maxine had to do to identify Item No. 838 was to look on her kitchen counter at hers, which, incidentally is also marked Dec. 25, 1877.
And Mike Pell, who is a longtime pottery and stoneware collector, adds this: If you own or find one of these tenderizers that is decorated, it would have real value. In his years of collecting, he’s seen many of these models, but never one that was decorated.
* * *
Story Continues Below Photos
I reached into the bag of goodies Les Howell sent us for this week’s item, Item No. 839. I know some of you know how to use these!
If you do, send us your guess (and stories!) to: Hazard a Guess, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460; or via e-mail to: editorial@farmanddairy.com. Please include your name, hometown, state for proper identification.
My backlog of Hazard-ous pictures is getting thin. Have something that could stump our fair panel of 30,000 readers? You can send a regular photograph or a digital photo via e-mail or the Web site, www.farmanddairy.com. Just make sure the background is not too cluttered, and it helps if you include an item or ruler for size reference in the photo. Please also include a detailed description of the item, including size, markings and its use. And if there’s any history to the item, we’d love to hear that, too.
