Miners Candlesticks/Eck Open

Miners Candlesticks

Eck Open.JPG - ECK PATENT - Unique and rare steel folding hook, spike and thimble model patented stick, patented by August Eck, Helena, MT on Mar.26, 1895, patent No. 536,460, marked PAT. MAR. 26. 95. on inside of handle, 7 1/2 in. long extended and 6 1/8 in. retracted, raised area on back of handle for striking matches, #262 in Wilson’s Candlestick Guide (Seller provided a history of the stick as follows: The stick came from Mackay, ID where it was used in the mines by its owner and miner V. Andersonaround the turn of the century; he was crushed in a mining accident but survived and continued mining for several years; the fact that the Eck stick was used in the mines is all the more remarkable; the stick is a precision nickel-plated instrument with the hook and thimble assembly hinged to the end of the round spike and slides through a groove in the outside body; when fully extended the assembly fits into a forward slot in the body that keeps it locked open; when retracted, the assembly is moved from the slot and runs along the groove against a spring back into handle where it folds down and the spike is pulled back into the body allowing the stick to be carried in a pocket safely; while this process worksgreat in practice above ground, use underground could be problematic whereeven a small amount of debris could lodge in the groove and jam the movement. See Bobrink, Mining Artifact Collector #9, p 11)

Eck Open | ECK PATENT - Unique and rare steel folding hook, spike and thimble model patented stick, patented by August Eck, Helena, MT on Mar.26, 1895, patent No. 536,460, marked PAT. MAR. 26. 95. on inside of handle, 7 1/2 in. long extended and 6 1/8 in. retracted, raised area on back of handle for striking matches, #262 in Wilson’s Candlestick Guide (Seller provided a history of the stick as follows: The stick came from Mackay, ID where it was used in the mines by its owner and miner V. Anderson around the turn of the century; he was crushed in a mining accident but survived and continued mining for several years; the fact that the Eck stick was used in the mines is all the more remarkable; the stick is a precision nickel-plated instrument with the hook and thimble assembly hinged to the end of the round spike and slides through a groove in the outside body; when fully extended the assembly fits into a forward slot in the body that keeps it locked open; when retracted, the assembly is moved from the slot and runs along the groove against a spring back into handle where it folds down and the spike is pulled back into the body allowing the stick to be carried in a pocket safely; while this process works great in practice above ground, use underground could be problematic where even a small amount of debris could lodge in the groove and jam the movement. See Bobrink, Mining Artifact Collector #9, p 11)

Original Image

Total images: 342 | Last update: 8/22/20 3:28 PM | Help