What is it? Contest 3.

Posted by Alex in What Is It on December 7, 2006 at 7:09 am


This week’s collaboration with What is it? brings us this object. Yes, it’s an eagle, but what is it for? More hints (dimensions, another photo) at Rob’s blog What is it?

Be the first to answer correctly (in the comment section – please post no URL or link.) will win a free Neatorama T-shirt.

Also, congratulations to Kevin Register, winner of last week’s contest.

Update 12/12/06: Congratulations to Mark (#18) who guessed correctly! What is it? Blog has this as their official answer:

According to the book Primitives, Our American Heritage these are called snowbirds, and were anchored by the holes to roof edges under materials as slate or tile, they were meant to retain snow for insulation. Others believed they could prevent a layer of snow from plunging down on the heads of pedestrians.


Previous post
this post? Please Email this               
Next post


FUN PRODUCTS FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP:


COMMENT

36 comments to "What is it? Contest 3."

  1. lennyb
    December 7th, 2006 at 7:43 am

    i think its a bollard for tying off flag ropes.
    or a beer bottle opener mmmmm beeeer

  2. harley
    December 7th, 2006 at 7:59 am

    I think it's either a boot scraper or boot puller.

  3. Felipe Venancio Alves
    December 7th, 2006 at 8:21 am

    It is a book holder, I guess! =] Peace folks, love this blog! I'm from Brazil!

  4. Kent
    December 7th, 2006 at 8:33 am

    Could it be something to put up where you don't want small birds? For example in a garden to keep birds away from freshly planted seeds, or growing plants.

  5. Kristian
    December 7th, 2006 at 8:49 am

    It's got a slot in the front, maybe for a piece that's now missing. The long bracket in the back mounts it as it sits...I'd say that it is a lantern holder.

  6. al
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:02 am

    I think it is for holding a flag pole.

  7. Ryan N.
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:03 am

    i think it is an old coat rack. or something to hang your hat on.

  8. Nicholas
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:15 am

    Top of a weathervane.

  9. Nicholas
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:18 am

    maybe a place to put your keys when you come home.

  10. The Liberal Avenger
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:21 am

    That, Alex, is a bird.

  11. Sylvain
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:31 am

    It's made to prevent burning wood pieces to go out the hearth in a chimney. (sorry regarding my english ... and see Alex I didn't post URL ! lol sorry for the last time I haven't read all the rules)

  12. Miss Cellania
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:36 am

    Reminds me of a bathtub foot.

  13. Jonathan Block
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:47 am

    Rope tie on a flagpole.

  14. yayo
    December 7th, 2006 at 9:56 am

    Mmmh... Let's say 3 ^^:
    - A candle or fire light source holder
    - A bird feeder
    - Two of those could hold a board on a wall and create shelves

    :/

  15. AJ
    December 7th, 2006 at 10:04 am

    It's a doorstop.

  16. lookyloo
    December 7th, 2006 at 10:14 am

    A lump of iron. In the shape of an eagle. And it's never been in my kitchen.

  17. Tim
    December 7th, 2006 at 10:46 am

    Part of an Iron Fence

  18. Mark
    December 7th, 2006 at 10:54 am

    these keep the snow from sliding off the roof

  19. özi
    December 7th, 2006 at 11:00 am

    it's a cast-iron snow bird

  20. Rich Grise
    December 7th, 2006 at 11:04 am

    Two of these are used like "hood ornaments" on
    those Cinderella-type carriges, one at each forward corner of the cabin, on either side of the driver. The fitting at the bottom is for a lantern holder, and the one that goes to the driver's right is a
    mirror image of this one.

    They kinda symbolize gargoyles, which kinda
    symbolize some kind of protection. :-)

    Cheers!
    Rich

  21. Paula
    December 7th, 2006 at 11:17 am

    Is it a mailbox flag?

  22. Daniel Leroy
    December 7th, 2006 at 12:59 pm

    it's used to turn the rein of the horse or to block the rope of a blind in a house?

  23. Amanda
    December 7th, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    Is it one of the eagles found atop flag poles?

  24. Melissa
    December 7th, 2006 at 1:31 pm

    My giess is an Eagle that is mounted on a headstone to mark a grave for a veteran.

  25. Laura
    December 7th, 2006 at 1:44 pm

    It's some kind of counterbalance.

  26. Brian
    December 7th, 2006 at 2:12 pm

    A boot jack

  27. Glenn
    December 7th, 2006 at 3:05 pm

    A paperweight!

  28. Shadx
    December 7th, 2006 at 3:26 pm

    I think it's a handle for a mailbox.

  29. tom
    December 7th, 2006 at 3:38 pm

    Himmler's egg timer.

  30. cynric
    December 7th, 2006 at 4:09 pm

    looks old. as if it were an eagle from the famous old-roman SPQR flags.
    greets from germany!

  31. I.M. Right
    December 7th, 2006 at 5:24 pm

    It's a dick sucker - oh no, wait, that's you!

  32. BoySchwen
    December 8th, 2006 at 12:14 am

    It looks like an eagle that would sit on top of a flag pole.

  33. Mike
    December 8th, 2006 at 6:49 am

    This is what is called a snowbird, used to keep snow and ice from sliding off the roofs of houses. You rarely see them anymore, mostly on the roofs of old homes with slate roofs. The snow and ice would melt, slide down the roof and get hung up on these where it would melt, not fall off where it could potentially hurt someone below

  34. schmitty
    December 8th, 2006 at 9:53 pm

    I think Mark #18 is close but I think it, along with several others like it would be lined up at the bottom edge of a sloped roof--not to keep the snow from falling off ut to help it melt and run off frequently and evenly.

  35. krystofyr
    December 9th, 2006 at 12:13 pm

    a fire place floo

  36. Brian
    December 11th, 2006 at 9:40 am

    Andiron


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

Neatorama Comment Policy
You don't have to register or login to comment, but it's easier if you do so. Comments aren't censored, but those that are abusive or off-topic may be edited or deleted.


Stay updated on the comments with Comment RSS