Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Monday
Gary Smyth
Though not credited as being invented by them this is an item that is historically part of the work performed by gypsies. They are used in children�s and adult games and activities, movie making, and as a prank. They come in several styles that may or may not use metal and/or plastic, but most thought of as mostly wood. They have been featured in public art and once part of almost every household but there largely replaced by other devices.
Re: Monday hint. Name the item
Gary Smyth
They are used in a schoolyard game that was designed to be fun, but can get nasty if left to some kids. The artwork is in Illinois. The inventor(s) are credited for being about NY/PA area, but the only one I found a picture of was from Kentucky. Though not condoned these days, a type can be converted into a "shooting" mechanism for wooden matches. (This caused my Mother to purchase another type.
Re: Monday hint. Name the item
John Veerkamp
Spring clothes pins?
Monday answer
Gary Smyth
John wins today. He stated spring clothes pins but I accept any type of clothes pin. Spring pins are used for all types of children (like peg in the bottle, and tag) and even adult activities, as tweezers to protect fingers from hot lights in the motion picture industry, as a"gun" for shooting wooden matches, and any of a number of uses beyond hanging clothes. Credit for the invention goes to the Shakers. There is a public art clothepin in Philadelphia not Chicago as I stated. (For that one I looked at Philadelphia and then wrote Chicago , Illinois. my apologies).