1700s Mold - For What?

[Don in SJ]

1700's Mold - For What?

I have been trying for quite awhile to get a positive ID on this iron brass piece I found a few years ago. I will not say what answers that have been suggested previously so as not to influence anybody here. I have had some good suggestions as to what it possibly might have been used for, but never a solid answer that makes sense.

It was found at a homesite that yielded only 1700 era buttons and coins, so the age of it is not of question.

Hopefully the second photo will show, if not I will post separately, in the second set of photos I used silly putty to show what the end result might look like, in order to help with the identification.

Don

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[mountainplayer]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What?

Looks like the head to a putter to me. I can't see how a mold could have a curved surface. Any golfers out there?

MP

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Skrimpy]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What?

Looks like the head to a putter to me. I can't see how a mold could have a curved surface. Any golfers out there?

MP

Now that you mention it. Definately looks like a putter head to me. Some of the more modern ladies clubs have spaces for weights in the head. Could be an early version of that.

 

[Michelle]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What?

. Rivet Heading and Dressing Spheres :

Large and small blocks including artist blacksmith blocks and dapping blocks have various hemispherical depressions that can be used for a number of things. Support for rivet heading is a common task replacing a rivet set or used in conjunction with a rivet set. The same depression can be used to form or dress a forged rivet head.

Hemispherical depressions can also be used for dressing balls and spheres.

Small hemispherical depressions for rivet heading can be added to existing blocks using a ball end mill the way they are formed in dapping blocks.
NOTE:

These instructions are for no particular block as most blocks do not have all the features used above on one block.

There are many other ways to use swage blocks if you let your imagination guide you.

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What?

Michelle, I am trying to find the reply I got from a Blacksmith back in July 2005, who said that is what it might be, and then try and find another one for their opinion. Again bearing in mind we are most likely talking about an item used in the mid to late 1700's.

Gee, I think golf was still over in Scotland then.

Don

 

[Michelle]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What?

http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/Tem...on=/Resources/Products/Anvil_Tools_and_Swages http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/Tem...p?theLocation=/Resources/Products/SWAGE_tools

 

[lonewolfe]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What?

Nice find!

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What? - Update

About a week ago I found a Blacksmith forum and joined it. Of course I posted the same photos and was surprised at the number of views on this very active forum, over 300 hits in a few days. Anyway, there is disagreement amongst the Blacksmith's on the identity of my artifact, but there seems to be a general concensus forming that it is a ...

Well, actually the best answer so far has been a rivet head bolster, used to set the bottom rivet head without flattening it. As far as the misshaped holes, that has controversy also, some say it is from wear and others not so sure.

So, even in the area of expertise of the trade there is no definite answer on its use and purpose.........

Hopefully the Blacksmiths will continue to debate what it is and come up with a solid answer.

BTW, the guys/gals on that forum have answered previously questions on items found by metal detectorists, so keep that in mind if you find one that stumps ya!

Don

 

[DCMatt]

Re: 1700's Mold - For What?

Could this simply be a stamp to mark and/or indent the top of metal ingots?

DCMatt