For 5 Life Points, what are these? A minor clue: they're handmade in the USA.
I'll post the answer tonight.
Mike
ANSWER: Five Life Points to Jeff Sprang. Jeff was the first and only person to get the answer right, despite all the creative and/or humorous attempts:
"I'm pretty sure those are 'dashboard consoles' for horse-drawn buggies. I live in a Mennonite community in Ohio and most of my neighbors and friends are 'buggy' Mennonites. Of course the etymology of the word 'dashboard' is especially interesting in this context."
["The word 'dashboard' originates from a wooden or leather board attached to the front of horse-drawn carriages and sleighs to protect drivers from mud and debris 'dashed' up by the horses' hooves." —Ed., from Google]
My friend Andrew Sensenig, who we visited when he made my spice rack, makes these for a relative of his who is a carriage maker. From time to time I see a batch of them in his showroom waiting to be picked up.
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Featured Comments from:
I'd guess that they're circa 1925 "3D" viewers. Drop a (fixed size) provided print into the middle slot and view the stereoscopic image through a port on the opposite side. The 3D viewer is really just the bait—ordering a copious stockpile of the special prints (some likely depict "erotic adventure") is where the payoff lies.
Posted by: Bryan Geyer | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 10:21 AM
Neanderthal Bun Bags?
Oh no, on closer inspection, they are tiny TVs with heart-shaped stereo speakers...Victorian by the look of them.
Posted by: JTK | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 11:09 AM
I'm pretty sure those are "dashboard consoles" for horse-drawn buggies. I live in a Mennonite community in Ohio and most of my neighbors and friends are "buggy" Mennonites. Of course the etymology of the word "dashboard" is especially interesting in this context.
Posted by: Jeff Sprang | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 11:31 AM
I have no clue what they're called, but they gotta hold pool cues.
:)
Posted by: SteveW | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 11:35 AM
Either an over the "TOP" picture frame or a baby cradle
Posted by: Rusty | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 11:38 AM
Mike, I bet that is something near and dear to your heart, a very nice pool cue rack.
Posted by: Rob Griffin | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 01:31 PM
I don’t know what it is, but having to look at it all day sure would cost me life points.
Posted by: Jaap Veldman | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 03:07 PM
I'm betting it's a semi-portable, custom made, ceremonial display case for a Klingon Sword of Honor (ie- the bat'leth)- also serves as a table top bar with two storage compartments, one for the bottle of initiatory Klingon Blood Wine, the other for the ceremonial goblet. Family members pass it amongst themselves using the dual handles on either side during the official Klingon coming of age ceremony. The trick is for the initiate to pour the wine into the goblet on the table top and finish the entire bottle while holding the device with one hand and the drink in the other. Only upon completion will he (or she) be allowed to open the compartment holding the official family bat'leth itself. Either that or something else...
Posted by: Stan B. | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 03:16 PM
I'm guessing some sort of galley cabinet for use on a boat. Or maybe an RV.
Posted by: hugh crawford | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 04:48 PM
They are HiFi speakers (hiding inside the two heart shapes) built within a surfboard top.
Clever!
Posted by: Dan Khong | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 04:55 PM
Pool-cue holders
Posted by: Andrew Bearman | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 05:37 PM
Custom pool table add-ons?
Posted by: Bob G. | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 05:57 PM
No, wait… wall-mounted cue stick and accessory holders. Top photo shows cue stick ends of custom woodworker…
Posted by: Bob G. | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 06:01 PM
Something you put on a wall to hold pool cues and related stuff?
Posted by: T. Edwards | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 07:20 PM
Jukebox speakers for a restaurant?
Posted by: Charlie Ewers | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 07:29 PM
Slab tables. I have a couple of chestnut slabs dying to be made into tables
Posted by: Terry Letton | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 09:03 PM
A storage place for human ashes?
Posted by: David Jolley | Friday, 21 March 2025 at 09:06 PM