not a simple undecorated horn

[Powder Flask Collector]

My new aquisition
A powder flask with a body made of horn and a brass
patent top

The body is made of two formed thin translucent lanthorn halves and has a fluted design


the top is marked with
R. W.
PATENT

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

The charger looks very similar to the patent of Hick and Weatherwax


I got no idea, what "R.W. PATENT" might mean

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

I got another flask with a similar charger, which is marked BOCHE IEUR A PARIS (left)



Does anybody know more about this type of charger? (@Feltwad ?????)

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

The charger might be adjustable

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

There is a very interesting text on pages 423 and 424 in The Powder Flask Book by Ray Riling


It seems, that Hick and Weatherwax got patented a construction, that was just used before in Europe. (more or less identical)

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

Does anybody know what material has been used for the black push parts of the charger?

It seems to be organic material. Horn? Looks like Bakelite, but this material was just
invented in 1905 by the belgian chemistrist Leo Hendrik Baekeland

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

Some guys told , it might be the material might be Ebonite.
"If you rub it intensively, you should notice a slight smell of sulfur"

But it might be also black (water)-buffalo horn.

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

I wonder how the lanthorn could have been pressed into the particular shape. It's not easy to get a cow horn into the typical shape of European flat powder horns.




Some time ago I was told that cow horn was boiled in vinegar for this purpose , but I found no reference to this technique in the literature.

 

[French Colonial]

I wonder how the lanthorn could have been pressed into the particular shape. It's not easy to get a cow horn into the typical shape of European flat powder horns.
View attachment 285298



Some time ago I was told that cow horn was boiled in vinegar for this purpose , but I found no reference to this technique in the literature.

There are a couple of flasks with spouts like this over on gunbroker but they are a little pricy

 

[Clark Badgett]

Does anybody know what material has been used for the black push parts of the charger?

It seems to be organic material. Horn? Looks like Bakelite, but this material was just
invented in 1905 by the belgian chemistrist Leo Hendrik Baekeland
View attachment 283142

Might be Gutta Percha.

 

[French Colonial]

Might be Gutta Percha.

Or ebony