Unusual WW I Related Offering

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-WORLD-WAR-I-Sp...emZ150189844389

 

I really wish that I could afford to buy this right now, but since I can't - I thought someone here might like a chance at it. I thought it would be a nice conversation piece to put into the collection.

 

Hurry though...at the time of this posting - only 4 hours left.

 

 

[Brig]

very interesting. wonder exactly how it was used

[alibi]

How it was used is a good question... if a mold it should be reversed so that the molded object would be a positive. The lettering on the side of the "mold" and the aluminum can in the image are correct so the image has not been reversed. It appears there was another part to this "mold" that only further adds to the mystery. If a mold it must have been used to form sheet metal and the object shown was used for the back side of the finished object. One other thought this could be the master die to make the molds.

 

Any tool and die people out there that can enlighten us what this is and how it's used?

[bayonetman]

How it was used is a good question... if a mold it should be reversed so that the molded object would be a positive. The lettering on the side of the "mold" and the aluminum can in the image are correct so the image has not been reversed. It appears there was another part to this "mold" that only further adds to the mystery. If a mold it must have been used to form sheet metal and the object shown was used for the back side of the finished object. One other thought this could be the master die to make the molds.

 

Any tool and die people out there that can enlighten us what this is and how it's used?

 

 

The auction states that this is a pattern for sand casting, which appears to be correct. For information on how a pattern such as this is used, you might want to read the Wikipedia article on how this is done.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_casting

[alibi]

The auction states that this is a pattern for sand casting, which appears to be correct. For information on how a pattern such as this is used, you might want to read the Wikipedia article on how this is done.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_casting

 

 

That makes sense, but sand casting is a one shot operation and the finished product often lacks the detail of other forms of casting molten metal. At least with this you can keep making sand casts until enough come out satisfactory.

 

IMO this particular item belongs in the Graves Registration exhibit at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum.