[Blindtlk] Question about an old cane...

[Steve Jacobson]

James,

I would be surprised if this cane would be worth very much money as a collector's item since the number of people who care about such a thing is small.  However, if you don't find a home for it, we might be interested in keeping it along with other older tools that blind people have used at the nFB of Minnesota.  Do you know if the antique dealer knows from whom it came?  Naturally, it would be interesting to know if it came from a past member.  We have had members from the Duluth area for many years.  We are thinking some about what we will do to mark the 100th anniversary in 2020 of what is now the NFB of Minnesota, and something like this could play a role.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James Kelm via blindtlk
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2017 8:27 PM
To: Blind Talk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: James Kelm <jameskelm at earthlink.net>
Subject: [Blindtlk] Question about an old cane...

Dear friends,

    I have what may be a rather unusual question, but I’m hoping that you may have an idea for me.  Recently my wife (who is sighted) was in the hospital.  When the older lady who was my wife’s “roommate” learned that I was blind, she in formed my wife that the roommate and her husband once owned and operated an antique shop.  She told my wife that she had a special gift for me.

    The next day my wife’s roommate’s husband brought a hard wood white cane, and presented it to my wife.  The husband told my wife that the cane was made in the 1940’s.

    The cane looks to be in very nice condition.  It is made of hard wood, and has a Shepard's hook handle.  The tip is metal.  My wife tells me that the Shepard's hook handle is done in a natural wood finish, while the body of the cane is painted white.  From about a foot up from the bottom going all the way down to the bottom, the cane is painted red.

    Does anyone know anything about this type of cane?  Is it worth anything to collectors, or is it simply a thoughtful gift from a sighted couple to a blind guy?  I can’t really see myself using this cane, but my wife is rather excited at what she thinks might be an antique.  What do you guys think?


Respectfully,
James Kelm
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