Expert: Irene Schwall - 9/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I recently purchased an item at an estate sale and can not seem to identify it online. It looks like a cross between a pair of scissors and a pair of tweezers. There is one round 'scissor' handle and one wooden handle w/ a sterling silver detail. Says PAT.MAY22,1900. I was thinking possibly men's grooming (i.e. nose hair tweezers??) but I just haven't a clue so I thought I'd at least see if you have any expertise to offer?
Thank you!

ANSWER: Hello Grace,
Thank you for your query.
Can you please attach photos of your item?
Thank you.
Irene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Irene,
Attached is a photo of the "object in question" :-)
Thanks for you help,
Grace

Answer
Hi Grace,
I would suspect that this item has nothing to do with needlework - my area of expertise.

Could the round metal circle have held a magnifying glass insert? Or, is it operable and necessary to operate the tweezers?  Perhaps it is something that a jeweler might have used?  This is only a guess as my expertise is needlework tools.

As to the Patent date: With only a patent date vs. also a number it can be very time consuming and difficult to find the object but it is possible.

This is the link to the US Gov. patent website and it might be of interest to you.
See: http://patft.uspto.gov/

I'm sorry I was not able to positively identify your object for you.
Regards,
Irene