PLATTSBURGH -- Geneveive Alavarez's cast-iron bracket, Thingamajig 3, is a humdinger of a puzzler. The smooth, cast-iron bracket with two mounting holes, nine decorative scallops and a concave opening brought many responses. Some told us Alvarez held it upside down in last Monday's photo on the Home and Garden page. As far as what it is, it's a toss up between a lantern holder, clothes-drying rack or a device to allow cows to drink water according to readers.

Here's how it panned out below:

Bernadette Lewis, West Chazy:

"I think it goes in a drinking cup for cattle. They push down on their nose with it, and it releases water for them. I remember things like that in my grandfather's farm. When they put pressure on it in the circle, it releases the circle. When I was a little kid, I would push on them and fill all the cups up."

Warren Robare, Plattsburgh:

"I love these things! A poker hanger is probable, but consider maybe, seeing as how families were rather large in those days (lotsa kids), could it be a toothbrush holder with rinse cup storage in the middle? That's my shot in the dark."

Ulrich Hoffman, Westport:

"I think that it's a trimming that was hung on wood stoves better and more efficiently to dissipate the heat."

Tom Venne, Prim Hall design engineer:

"OK, since your item was found in the barn, I believe I know what it is. First of all, I think it is upside down in the photo. It has to do with the water system for the cows. Every stall had a watering bowl that was hooked up to the water pipes. This item was bolted to a valve at the bottom of the bowl. When the cow's nose got to the bottom it would press this item and in turn would open the valve to let in more water. Thus always having a supply of water when needed. If they look further in the barn, they may find the bowl too. If you cut a soccer ball at the lower third of it, this would be about the size of the bowls. They are not worth a lot of money. I have seen the entire bowls at yard sales for about 5 bucks. They make great planters on the outside."

Mark Christian, Morrisonville:

"Definitely a clothes drying rack. Place dowels in the slots and the weight of the clothing keeps them placed properly. Remove the dowels, and there is a convenient compact cast iron mount remaining. No doubt."

Marge Harrigan, Plattsburgh:

"I think the thingamajig shown in Monday's paper might well be a wall bracket on which a candle or a wall kerosene lamp could be placed."

Dan Foster, Rainbow Delight Collies: