Cleaning out the back of a very high top closet shelf we’d never explored before, Johanna found these.
Does anyone have any idea what they are? They look like a type of hanger, but how would they work, by hanging on two poles? Are they something else entirely?
(If you can’t read the tape measure, they’re about 20″ in length.)
it looks like an old suit valet, something like this:
http://www.furnitureinfashion.net/wooden-clothes-valet-stand-natural-30370-pi-4032.htmlReport
They look like gambrels but I’ve never seen wooden ones before. I had to do an image search and it looks pretty similar.
http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mPpp8RHb355X_GjxUJod6Jw.jpgReport
Just a wild guess, but maybe they’re for hanging a jacket and slacks to dry. They would hang between two adjacent clotheslines mounted at the ISO standard ( ;-P ) spacing of 18 inches.Report
I think it’s part of something called a Wooley Board, a device used for blocking sweaters. (A form to hold them in shape while they dry.)Report
Can you tell what kind of wood they are? Cedar repels moths, which suggests the guesses about hanging sweaters may be right.Report
Neither Johanna nor I think it smells like cedar. Kind of looks like white pine.Report
Definitely looks like pine, not cedar. (Cedar, btw, will smell of cedar if you lightly sand or scratch it.)
I’m wrong about the wooley board; a fine Scottish invention, btw.
I think it’s part of a valet stand; for hanging a suit overnight, brushing out, etc. For an example, look at how the valet cares for Lord Grantham’s wardrobe in scenes from Downton Abbey. The bend arms would go over hooks on the stand, which would hold the clothing stable for brushing, a more modern hanger would swing and sway. The top for pants, the bottom for a jacket/coat.Report
I’m changing my answer to valet stand as well.Report
A facebook friend suggests steamer trunk hangers. I think we have a winner.
The next question is, what do we do with them? We can’t just throw away antiques like this, but have no actual use for them.Report
Spot on James.
How about an antique store or craigslist?
I’ve sold a buch of stuff on craigslist. Do some research and see if they have any real value, if not, throw them out there for 50 bucks. See who bites 🙂Report
http://www.ebay.com/itm/steamer-trunk-hangers-vintage-/351110681825?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item51bfd3d4e1Report