Unique old Buffalo horn measure or is it

[Deadeye]

I traded for this at a recent rondavoux. Supposed to be an old horn and has a interesting measuring device. Has 2 scales that can be set in drams or grains. 0-120 grs. or 0- 4 1/2 drams. turn the lever and out comes that exact amount of 2F. Also has a tapered threaded wooden fill plug in the other end that also serves to hold the strap, there's a hanger on the front for the strap.Has anyone ever seen one of these, I hadn't.

 

[Deadeye]

reposted below with pic.

 

[Deadeye]

The circular disk on top turns independently of the lever and sets the charge then the lever is turned to the front dropping the powder. It looks old but wondering is it.
Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Norskie]

:hmm: If'n it's old, it's durn well preserved.

 

[riarcher]

Don't matter. I like it,,,, a lot!

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Buffler horn is rather durable.

 

[Bullmoose]

That is one strange contraption. As Forest Gump would say, "I like it alot"

 

[scott k]

I wonder how old it is :hmm:
It's in nice shape and is pretty neat :thumbsup:
That has to have a pattent on it. It's too Unique.

Lehigh...

 

[Deadeye]

The measure is very well made and doesn't come apart so I can't see how it works inside, I wanted it because it was so unique. There's no marking on it except the gr. and dram marks.
Maybe I of a kind. I'd hoped someone had seen one somewhere.

 

[paulvallandigham]

It may be european, since American manufacturers tend to put their patent number or name on a product. Looking at the brass casting, it could have been made any time before WWI, and maybe as far back as the American Civil War. It does remind me of my powder measure drum, which rotates similarly to dispense a measure of smokeless powder. If I were going to research this, to determine age, I think I would begin in the Patent office and look for rotary powder measures. It may be older than I think, but I am basing my estimate on the quality of the casting, and the close tolerances needed for that rotary drum, which I believe would place it as being made after the Industrial age was in full swing. I suspect it did not find a market because of its cost, and the concurrent advent of cartridge casings, and breech loading rifles. That might move it back to the 1850s, at that.

 

[Zonie]

In my book THE POWDER FLASK BOOK by Ray Riling, Copyright MCMLIII, published by Bonanza Books, the author shows a horn and several metal flasks with a valve that is very similar to yours on page 443 (ref #1535 flask, 1536 flask, 1540 flask and #1543 horn).
This is in the chapter titled MODERN.

The the horn, flasks and valves shown were made by Mark B. Burnham of Georgia.

The author says the valve was a "...distinct innovations for dispensing powder. Mark states that his metal flask bodies, as well as the valve chargers, are completely made by hand without the use of any power tools...".

As the books copyright date is 1953, and at least four powder dispensers with this type of valve existed prior to that publishing date,there is a fair possibility that your valve was made prior to that date.

I expected to find a patent on this valve and as the book shows a large number of British and American patent drawings I hoped it would show it. It didn't.

Although it didn't show a patent drawing, at least you know the name of the person who probably made it.

Zonie

 

[shmrck1]

Zonie,
This would not be rare then but something
more or less common?? Reguardless I still like
it!
snake-eyes :hmm:

 

[Zonie]

Zonie,
This would not be rare then but something
more or less common?? Reguardless I still like
it!
snake-eyes :hmm:

I honestly don't have any idea.
For all I know, the maker only made 5 of them.
It most likely is rarer than many of the powder flasks which were made by the hundreds or thousands back in the 1800s if only because how many of these things can one man make using no power tools?

I know folks were wanting it to be a rare, much sought after example of some great companys work, but in my opinion, I think it is kinda neat that it was hand made by someone who obviously liked black powder.
From the look of the horn in the picture above, he also made a very high quality horn.

 

[Deadeye]

Thanks, Zonie and everyone for the info. Someone referred to it as a casting but as far as I can see it's constructed of sheet brass and soldered but very strudy. I guess a patent wasn't necessary since no one else seems to have copied it.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

No patent may have been necessary. I have a few mechanical patents, having never submitted updated improvements and such, the protection then only ran for 17 years, after that they became public domain.

A couple:

http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=pat&pat=4377206

http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=pat&pat=4468194

 

[Begor]

Zonie: It was made by Mark Burnham. He made flasks, flask heads and moulds. He advertised in the 50's and 60's (at least) in Muzzle Blasts magazine. They were popular and he probably made many. The ones I have seen were marked with his name. Begor

 

[Tinker2]

I have one and it is marked:

Mark B Burnham
Savannah GA.
1951

Looks like this but mine isn’t this one.[url] http://www.cwslagleantiques.com/inventory.cfm?id=1030&catid=11[/url]



Tinker2

 

[renovato]

Zonie,
This would not be rare then but something
more or less common?? Reguardless I still like
it!
snake-eyes :hmm:

Being hand made without the use of powertools, I would think that it would be somewhat rare. How many could he have made? They had to be expensive at the time also, so how many would have sold? It's sure a great looking and unusual design. It's got to have pretty fair collector value.

 

[Deadeye]

Thanks, Tinker, for the pic and to see the price they are asking.