Is This Image That of Some Strange Tool?

Question

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk80/besunny/mysteryprintblock.jpg

It's on one of several dozen printers blocks (the kind print shops used in early to mid-20th century) that I found among the stuff left behind by a relative who was a printer.

Some are easy to ID - animals, soldiers, etc - but some are weird. Like this. I don't have a clue as to what it is. Some kind of tool, or pulley? (I don't even know if I photographed it right side up.)

Anyone know? Best Answer with 3 stars for best guess, with all 5 for a "for sure" or linked reply!!

Answer 1

It's the capital letter 'A' in a fancy, old-fashioned typeface.

Answer 2

It is a stylized capital A turn it 90 degrees to the right.

http://www.p22.com/sherwoodtype/canterbu...

Answer 3

Sure looks like a letter, E or A, in some font style, maybe what they called "Old English".  Would be used, rotated clockwise.  

Answer 4

Its an 'old english' letter A... youve got it shown in the photo laying on its 'back'.  Don't forget, its reversed, for the purposes of printing.

Here is a photo of a font which uses that type - the 'A's are about 3/4 of the way down.

http://www.matchfonts.com/printouts/-Fla...

You might even find a few more that match some of those you've not identified yet, in that photo.  There are MANY styles of old english lettering.... for a quick tour, just do an image search for 'old english font'

Have Fun