Can you guess the February mystery tool?
Here’s the February Mystery Tool—can you figure out what it was used for? For reference, the object is 6.375 inches long, 6.125 inches wide, and 2.25 inches tall.
If you think you know what it is, share your guess using the contact form below. Include your full name and the town where you live. Submissions are due by Friday, February 27, 2026. The correct answer will be revealed on Sunday, March 1st. Good luck!
Submission Form
Thank you for your response. ✨
For information, visit landisvalleymuseum.org.
Answer to the January Mystery Tool Revealed!
Jennifer Royer, museum curator at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, says this is a slater’s anvil, hand-forged from flat iron. It is “T”- shaped, with a curved, pointed vertical bar measuring 6.5 inches tall and ending in a pointed tip. The horizontal bar is 17.75 inches long and one inch wide. To use the anvil, the pointed arm was pounded into a large block of wood. A piece of slate was laid on the horizontal bar for support as the slater hammered the slate to chip it into a particular shape. Much like a blacksmith uses his anvil to support and shape the hot metal he is working on.
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1901 Map of Lancaster and York Counties, PAPrice range: $29.99 through $33.89
