Mystery Buckles?

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi All,

Just got these 2 large brass buckles which have some sort of automobile use; perhaps for panniers or picnic baskets but cannot see how they operate? From about 1910 or so I think?

Any comments much appreciated, Cheers Martin

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Check out the patent Number ? Noel.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

You need Michael G for that one.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Compare diameters, but how about an old road tax disk holder, missing the glass & backing?

Armadale Tricars, later became Northwood Engineering
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Armadale_Motors

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadale_(automobile)

https://grokipedia.com/page/armadale_automobile

Bill

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I have failed abysmally, patent-searching … but I wonder if ‘The Northwood’ might be your best lead, Martin.

A suitably civil note to the historian at Holland&Holland might possibly reveal something.

MichaelG.

.

Straw: clutching for the use-of

https://www.hollandandholland.com/products/acc-holdall1-northwood-canvas-and-leather-holdall

[FatgadgiParticipant @fatgadgi]

Mr Google suggests the following, which sounds nowt like you’ve photographed, but who knows:

The Northwood coin-operated machine is a historical vending machine patented by Oliver Northwood in 1888 under British (GB) Patent No. 12,584.

Patent Details
Patent Number: GB 1888/12584.
Patent Title: “Improvements in Coin-freed or Automatic Delivery Apparatus.”
Filing Date: 1 September 1888.
Inventor: Oliver Northwood.

Mechanism and Function
The machine was designed as a weight-operated automatic delivery system for small items. It featured:
Balanced Lever System: A primary internal lever was balanced to remain locked until a coin of a specific weight was inserted.
Gravity Release: Once a coin was placed in the chute, its weight would tip the lever, releasing a mechanical catch.
Product Delivery: The movement of the lever allowed the user to pull a drawer or push a button to receive an item (often sweets, matches, or postcards), after which the coin fell into a secure box and the lever reset.

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Or a some of the component parts of a Northwood Silent Automatic air valve for steam radiators

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Tanks Michael, I will drop H&H a note and will let you know the result, if any? Cheers, Martin

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

If they are buckles, the only two ways I can see they’d work (by comparison with other, modern one) are:

(1) -bring the cord or strap in from the side over the ring, let’s say from the left,

– down between it and the left-hand bar of the hinged loop,

– round the back of the loop,

– back up between the right-hand side of the loop and the ring,

– out over that second (RH) “side” of the ring.

It might be locked, rather awkwardly, by taking the free end back round behind everything, up and out leftwards between the strap and ring on the left.

 

OR

(2)

Referring to the left-hand (obverse) photo

– from the lower margin of the image, through the hinged loop above the ring where stanped with the patent,]

– down between the bars,

– up round the hinge,

– back up to the top and out through the loop above the incoming part of the strap.

 

I can’t though work out what happens to the other end of the strap – unless that is intended to be looped round part of the buckle and fastened back on itself, rather as on a trouser-belt buckle.

Or Method 1 is used with both ends of the strap threaded from opposite sides.

We might note they appear used, but there are no obvious wear-marks on any part of them. Though they might not have been intended for frequent use – instead would be set and left for some indeterminate time.

 

Try it with some suitable material, bearing in mind synthetic-material straps are much more likely to slip than the leather or canvas webbing they were likely made to hold. Being circular, suggests canvas the more likely.

I can’t guarantee that either method would work – but is it even a strap buckle anyway?  

 

Really the only way is to find the patent, or perhaps ask on a forum dedicated to vehicle preservation.

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Trying a couple of vintage auto forums and restorers. Martin

[Martin King 2]

On Martin King 2 Said:

Trying a couple of vintage auto forums and restorers. Martin

Dis you measure them for old road fund disks?

https://www.britishtaxdiscs.co.uk/tax-disc-history.php

Bill

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi Bill, I checked out the backs and they are rough cast brass and semi circular so no way to fit glass or a back plate for a tax disc.

Cheers, Martin

[mike TParticipant @miket56243]

Nothing to do with tax discs

Rug or Blanket Clips. : In open-top cars of that era, such clips were often used to secure “lap rugs” or heavy travel blankets to prevent them from blowing away.

Cheers  Mike

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Mike, Thanks very much for that info, very helpful.

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