Halifax take a look at the photograph. This is a two piece Ebony rod pre 1850. It has two holes one at the extreme end of the Brass fitting that has a Turk,s Head brush fitted, then below that is the larger hole that takes the Flax or Cotton Tow this hole can be round or oval I have seen both. Now the threaded hole that has the Turk's Head fitting also came with a long Brass large headed screw when the rod was new, this screw enters the larger hole below to apply pressure on the material passing through the hole holding it fast. As luck would have it I cant find the screw it is not lost just gone walkabout.
