What-is-it question IV, German.

[2209patrick]

These two items serve the same purpose. The one on the left was made by Neresheimer, Hanau, Germany.
It is 4 inches long (10 cm).

This is a tough one (I think) so I'll give a clue now. At the bottom of both pieces there is a button that you push.



Pat.
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[2209patrick]

Here's a small clue.
They have nothing to do with food or drink.
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[Waylander]

Pencil sharpener? :)

Waylander
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[Kit]

Ooooo, Waylander! Creative guess.
All my musings shot down by Pat's exclusion of the food-drink category. My imagination runs dry. [No relationship intended.]
Pat, another teensy clue?
Kit
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[Doos]

As it has nothing to do with food or drink, a nose picker will be excluded I guess.
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[Granmaa]

Perhaps some sort of electrical switch?

Miles
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[2209patrick]

Hello all, no it's not a pencil sharpener or electrical switch.

Found out it also goes by another name that was not listed in my book. Will accept either one.

Now this clue is just my opinion. I would think that despite the fact this is silver, a weathy person would be more likely to own it and would use it at home.

Pat.
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[Granmaa]

A hanging bell or buzzer?
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[2209patrick]

That's close enough for me. Good job Miles!
It's called a bell push or servant call.
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[admin]

Handy item, spent years yelling myself hoarse 'til I got one. Now, just a quick press of a button and one of the staff appears, as if by magic, with the port decanter.

Regards, Tom
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[Granmaa]

Do you know how they work Pat? Are they like hotel reception bells perhaps?

Miles
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[admin]

Miles,
A long wire would have extended from a hidden electric bell mechanism and passed through the narrow end into the bulbous section. Inside the bulbous section would be a pair of electrical contacts, pressing the button would join the contacts and complete the circuit. Same idea as a light switch.
Nice Jugendstil design to these, unlike anything I've seen from Neresheimer.

Regards, Tom
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[2209patrick]

Thanks for the info Tom.

Here's the information from the book about the first piece.
"Electric bell-push designed in 1904 at the Konigliche Preussische Zeichenakademie, Hanau. Made by Neresheimer, Hanua."

The second bell-push was designed by Patriz Huber.

Pat.
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