Circa 1915 comes this very fun, interesting, kitschy antique and it still works !
It's called the 'Night Watch Thief Alarm' and it's designed to warn you in your home should anyone attempt to enter your Henhouse, Garage, Smokehouse, Barn, or other building "containing valuable property". I do not think this Alarm system was ever connected and has it been sitting in it's original, brown cardboard box for probably around 100 years. This item has been tested and still works exactly in the way it was intended. The item has been polished so it looks like brand new steel, but if you put it in a damp location it wouldn't take long to get some patina back if that's what you desire. It comes with it's original instructions which are a joy to read - a trip back to simpler times. My favorite part is when it tells you to turn the crank handle clock-wise;  "the same direction that you crank a Ford"  !  Lol !
So the way it works is you mount the main unit somewhere inside your home, and then you connect the attached key to a spool of galvanized wire. Then you run that wire to the door or window of the outbuilding you want to protect. When that door or window is opened by the local chicken thief, the tension of the wire will pull the key from your base unit, release the spring dial you have wound, and letting off a loud, irritable rattle sound...waking you from your sleep so you can run out to the henhouse and do whatever it is you do when there's a thief in your henhouse !
All the irreplaceable parts are here if you actually wanted to set this up, but you'll need to visit the local general store if you intend to do so and pick up a couple items, like the wire, some wire loom eyelets, and some screws. Don't worry the entertaining instructions will make it all clear to you.
To say this is rare would be an understatement, it could very well be One of A Kind ! If I have to keep this forever it won't bother me one bit, it's so neat, but I thought I would list it in case there is a collector out there who may be familiar with it, or someone who just wants a very cool accent piece for their farmhouse. If one of those is you, don't pass this up.
Please take a look at all the photos and ask me questions if you have them.
Buy it Now and you'll never lose another chicken again !!
Thanks!