Any Ideas what This Is?

[scloyd]

My entire life, 65 years, I remember there always being a handcrafted wooden tool chest full of old tools under my father's workbench. When my father passed about twenty years ago, I became the new owner of this wooden box of old tools. Today, I found this item in the box.



The handle is wood and the 'legs' swing in and out. I think it's an antique auto battery carrier.

Any other ideas?

 

[tracerbullet]

That might make sense. Attaching the holes to the terminals.
but chances are good I am wrong

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Seems likely. This is similar:

VINTAGE WOOD HANDLE METAL STRAP CARRYING LIFTING TOOL For BATTERY | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">VINTAGE WOOD HANDLE METAL STRAP CARRYING LIFTING TOOL For BATTERY. Condition is pre-owned in good shape, some surface rust and white paint, see all pictures. </p>

www.ebay.com

 

[mikethompson]

I'm curious as to how this would work. Wouldn't most older car batteries be side post?

 

[kcghost]

Seems like a better explanation than the one I had. I thought it was for cleaning boots before you came in the house.

 

[scloyd]

Here's a battery ad from 1956. I think it is a battery carrier.
Mystery solved...I think.

 

[orvet]

I think you're exactly right, it is a battery carrier. The ones I grew up with in the 60s had a plastic or fiber strap that was a fixed to the metal pieces that went over the battery terminals. When you lifted the strap or the wooden handle it causes the metal pieces to bite into the battery terminal and you can lift it easily without it slipping.

I grew up working in a service stations, garages and parts houses and they were very pretty much everywhere somebody had to life or move batteries. To answer someone's earlier question, most of the 6 volt and 12 volt batteries I saw had the post on the top of the battery. I don't remember the first time I saw a side post on a battery, but I think it was in the 1970s.

Effective and functional old tool, with some family connection. Very cool!