Another Beautiful Antique Brass Stencil Wheel, Allen Bros., 1868-1871 Patent painted folk art figure Pretty unusual

Pretty unusual

terminating with giant feet

I believe these would particularly have been used for polishing buttons on uniforms

and a bit taller on one side than the other

I don't know much about this large

Another Beautiful Antique Brass Stencil Wheel, Allen Bros., 1868-1871 Patent painted folk art figure Pretty unusualI keep scooping up these antique stencil wheels whenever I come across them as I think they're just fantastic things. This is a very early one, with 1868 and 1871 patent dates (stamped on the face not once but twice) as well as a stamp for Allen Bros. Boston, MA, who would have been the distributor. In the case of this one which is in very good shape, with a nice warm, mellow patina to the brass on the face I love the back side as much as the front,