# Identify this item. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 10, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503 "2017-02-10T22:37:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/1 "2017-02-10T22:37:41Z")
I found this in a squat in Camdentown London in 1979. It appears to be cast aluminum. Made in Switzerland. The “spade” with the print seems to be worn. What is it? [![](https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w499/galenval/Swiss%20tool_zpssfqqnulp.jpg) ](https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w499/galenval/Swiss%20tool_zpssfqqnulp.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/2 "2017-02-10T22:49:39Z")
A children’s toy? Combination rake/shovel, which should be named a rovel? [This](https://www.rubylane.com/item/212146-13327/Vintage-Collectible-Combination-Toy-Metal-Rake) isn’t identical, but is the same idea. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/3 "2017-02-10T22:52:23Z")
I think they were a novelty item aimed at the indoor gardener. Just the job to weed the aspidistra. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/4 "2017-02-10T23:05:31Z")
[Bonsai rake.](http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/121336748162?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/5 "2017-02-10T23:09:57Z")
[Here](https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage+indoor+gardening+tool&biw=1056&bih=518&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiylJmT0obSAhWFSCYKHYjbCMAQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=03zXO51CRu3e6M:) is another version. (And if I had had access to my photo editor right now, I’d already have been posting a photo of your tool clenched in Bernie Sander’s raised fist.) ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/6 "2017-02-10T23:27:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Here](https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage+indoor+gardening+tool&biw=1056&bih=518&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiylJmT0obSAhWFSCYKHYjbCMAQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=03zXO51CRu3e6M:) is another version. (And if I had had access to my photo editor right now, I’d already have been posting a photo of your tool clenched in Bernie Sander’s raised fist.) That is it. I don’t get the part about Bernie Sanders, though. Dopers never fail to deliver.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/7 "2017-02-10T23:40:56Z")
> [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](#): > > That is it. I don’t get the part about Bernie Sanders, though. You have two photos on that Photobucket page. Click on the rovel image, and it’ll flip over to a fist-raised Bernie Sanders photo. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-item/779503/8 "2017-02-11T12:33:56Z")
[Threat fulfilled](http://imgur.com/a/dJiZG).