Is This Item a Stretcher?

Whatsits

The item is made from finished wood that has the finish much intact, so it doesn't seem that it was used with anything wet. The main arm is about 33 inches long and curves downward. The wood is about 3/4 -inch thick throughout. The lower arm is curved the same amount and is 22 1/2 inches long. The maximum opening of the jaws is almost 13 inches (Figure l), but I believe it was most likely used with the jaws parallel (Figure 2), which is a maximum of 8 1/2 inches open.

The metal rod has a tubular cloth covering for the portion that would touch anything. The chain hooks into a tapered wire clip to lock open at various sizes. It is fairly delicate, not something that would take a lot of pressure. The jaws taper to a point at the end, although still 3/4-inch thick there, so it would appear that it is inserted into something and then opened to stretch or hold the item open. The two brass rivets that the metal rod pivots on (one in each jaw) have the numbers 7 and 12 on each one.

Initial guesses my others have focused on pants stretcher, but the curvature of the lower jaw isn't right for that, and wet pants would ruin the finish. Why the curvature? Why does the lower jaw pivot? Help!

Copyright Early American Industries Association Jun 2003
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