Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Item identification
I had some fun a couple years ago with a series of posts about unusual artifacts around the police department. Monday night during the Nebraska- Iowa basketball game, I used this tool at home to accomplish a vital task, and it struck me that it was probably the oldest utensil Tonja and I own. I think this vintage Vaughn TapBoy has been in the kitchen drawer since we acquired our first apartment in 1973--maybe even a bit longer. I found an identical example on eBay for $19.99. Mine still works just fine, though. If you want to have a laugh, show this photo to your family and friends under the age of about 35, and see how many can correctly describe the purpose of the pointy end.
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9 comments:
Unfortunately I am not under 35, but the only thing I have ever used the "pointy side" for was to punch holes in evaporated condensed milk cans when making pumpkin pie. It has quite an ironic name considering what college students would have used it for back in the day. Will have to check with my two college students to see what they know...am tempted to do it now, but they wouldn't appreciate the 6:30 am wake up call while they are on winter break.
Mine is just a bit more sophisticated. It looks just like yours but has a second, longer pointy piece to punch an air hole. This is probably the precursor of the beer bong.
My favorite gadget was the P-?? can opener that came in the old C/K rations from the WW2, Korean and Viet Nam eras. I had one that I used for forty years before I LOST it. Every time I go to a gun show I ask around trying to find one but nobody wants to sell theirs. I don't know how many guys I have talked to that have carried them on their keychains for fifty years.
Gun NUt
<img src="http://imgur.com/pNdpcSe"
Steve,
Never seen that extra lever before. Pretty cool. I prefer the abocado green, though ;)
Mine is newer.
Many young adults drink a lot of imported beer, at the bars and elsewhere. They know what a bottle opener looks like.
Anonymous 2:31,
You've just made my point (pun intended.) You do not use the pointy end to open a bottle.
GunNut,
A reader has contacted me on the down-low to advise that the utensil you describe is the P-38. He can hook you up, but asked me not to publish his email address. Contact me off-list if you'd like his info.
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