Have you ever seen one of these?

[Woodsrover]

A friend dropped this off today.

22087

[upsmapleman]

I think you use it to install metal spiles for buckets so you don't beat them up.

[maple flats]

I have one mounted on my tap display. When I bought the evaporator that I now have, then replaced the pans after 3 seasons, I got an assortment of old taps. I just mounted one of each and used it when I gave demonstrations at schools, clubs or church groups. I never used any to tap a tree.

[DrTimPerkins]

Spout driver. Set into spout and tap on the end of the driver. Prevents damage to spouts.

If you want a lot of info about spouts over time, check out a couple of books by Hale Mattoon. Highly informative and highly recommended.

https://bascommaple.com/products/maple-spouts-spiles-taps-tools
http://maplesyruphistory.com/2017/08/24/new-books-on-antique-spouts-and-other-maple-related-objects/
https://www.themaplenews.com/story/vermont-sugarmaker-is-industrys-spout-curator/183/

[Woodsrover]

Can't fool you guys. I'd never seen one. Came in a box of spiles a friend dropped off today.

[DrTimPerkins]

https://www.lehmans.com/product/spout-driver-for-maple-sugaring?shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4feBBhC9ARIsABp_nbV5jZXDCaaPcwK6_eXq XZa0NSA8Yx8d8Q8h33ka6dojrGOQlJAFckMaAkvSEALw_wcB

I think I recall seeing them on the shelves at Leader Evaporator about a decade ago. Haven't looked in that section/aisle for a while now.

[maple flats]

I guess mine mounted on the tap board must be a tap driver, I guess I just mounted it without looking very closely.