Unusual powder tester for comments

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Two more, the one on top Spanish, dated 1865.

Say Michl, how long ago has this auction taken place ?
I am trying to figure out whether my example, just acquired, cost me a good or a bad price.

[Matchlock]

Of course, Sir Nando,


Right at your command and service:
here are the hammer prices (plus 23 per cent commission for the buyer, minus 23 per cent for the consigner) of Hermann Historica's Munich back till 2012 (descending). As they prove, prices greatly vary.
Please forgive me for not finding exactly the items posted before as I picked them up from the web at random.


Best,
Michl

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Of course, Sir Nando,
Right at your command and service: ...

Thank you for the pictures and for the reverence, Sir Miguel .
... although none of them has the date the auction took place, which was my humble request; you know, trying to update the prices ... inflation and all .

[Marcus den toom]

Originally Posted by fernando

Say Michl, how long ago has this auction taken place ?
I am trying to figure out whether my example, just acquired, cost me a good or a bad price.

I think we should put your example somewhere in the €350-450,- range Fernando, though not very old, all of them seem very collectible. As always, the price differs with the quality, rarity, maker, age, provenance, etc.

The handle on your powder tester was amde in the same way and from the same material as my indoor door handles. The house was made in 1920's.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

The handle on your powder tester was made in the same way and from the same material as my indoor door handles. The house was made in 1920's.

Thank you Marcus, but we better not express values under discussion terms; only (non posted) considerations on prices accidently shown in Web images .

You are not assuming that my powder tester is as new as 1920
I would be most surprised that you door handles are of horn; may i call it insolit ?!
But if you only refer to its shape and apparent method i don't need to remind you that such design may be centuries old .

[Matchlock]

Some more samples of powder testers, all four 2nd half to late 17th c.

m

[fernando]

Ah ... the testing tube with the touchole


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[fernando]

Scanning and selecting an example shown in page 166 of Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revoliution, by George Neumann & frank J. Kravic.
Recalling the 'early' origins of this type of tester plus an interesting description of the ignition system.


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[fernando]

I have received comments from Spanish collector, author and documentalist of the former Montjuic Museum of Barcelona, Mr. Juan Luis Calvó, in which he concurs that my example is Spanish, apparently earlier than 1800.
He also sent me a picture of the (only) example in his collection, attributedly Spanish, in which we can see a strong resemblance with mine.

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