A Little explanation on this one. I went on a service call today to one of the partners of the company I work for. He collects antique tools, and bar novelties (like you do). Unlike most people who collect such stuff in small manageable collections of a few pieces in their home, he has warehouses of it. I was unable to get a photo of the complete Brunsick Bar circa 1869 as it was 30' long and about 18' tall.
While I fixed the system, I got a tour here are a few things:
This is the working mechanism from a decommissioned Lighthouse. The room was fully lit, but the light was bright enough to cancel it out. The lenses were hand made in the 1800's. the lamp was originally whale oil, then carbon, then acetylene arc. It is now incandescent.
This little gem was built early 1900's. It has a self playing roll (like a player piano) that plays a piano and 4 violins. There are less than 70 of these in the world and only 1 or 2 besides this one that work.
This is a detail of one of the lights on the unit. It is an original Edison incandescent lamp. That's right this light bulb has worked for over a hundred years.
Last but not least was this:
This is the Studley Tool Chest. I had seen a poster of this before. It was built by Henry O. Studley pre civil war. He was a piano maker. The chest is 39x20x9 and holds over 300 tools. All of the tools fit into specific places within it and pressure fit into place, or have small carved Onyx clasps. It is made from about 6 woods, plus onyx and mother of pearl. Most of the tools are also hand made by Henry or are early Stanley Tools. It has been displayed in the Smithsonian and is one of a kind. He has it over a pool table. Pictures do not do justice to its beauty and complexity.
Here are a few links about it
