What is this?!?

[trouvaille]

I dug this up yesterday.
It's cast iron and only weights about 7lbs.
It's a little under 7in.
As you can see, it has one ring attached (no indication there was another)

 

[OsiaBoyce]

Smudge pot.


Used up until the 1960s around here for hi-way warning marker.

Before those automatic flashing yellow lights.

Generally used kerosene as a fuel.

I can remember seeing these things burning along the road.

 

[OsiaBoyce]

Want a working one?

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Transportation-/417/i.html?_nkw=road+flare

 

[LC]

I think they were called smudge pots or something to that effect .

 

[surfaceone]

Hey Patsy,

Nice to see you providing actual helpful information, again.

 

[trouvaille]

Thanks folks!

*oh, I guess it's steel and not cast iron.

 

[TJSJHART]

HAD A FEW OF THEM.. USED THEM WITH BUG REPELLENT IN THEM AT PARTIES IN THE BACK YARD.....ONE WAS CALLED "TOLEDO TORCH "

 

[Plumbata]

Got several different old smudge pots, they are kinda neat. I heard that they were used in greenhouses to protect delicate plants from the frost, in addition to their typical use.