1840s doohickey with patent

[vthepresident]

I found this in the yard of a 120 year old home in Marion, AL, home of the original design for the Confederate uniform. As you can see, I gouged it terribly, but what can you do. At first I thought it was scrap metal, but I noticed the hole in it has a definite shape to it like a tulip or a shield. Upon cleaning, I noticed it has a list of patent dates on it from 1846 to 1854. On the back, there are two numbers, 27579, and 23579. I thought maybe it was a patent tag from some farm equipment or something like that, but if anyone can ID it, I will be in your debt.

It's about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide. It was possibly brass. There is a little bit of brass coloring on one of the edges.

 

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[PBK]

Evidently, those are serial numbers or parts numbers, rather than patent numbers.

#23579 is a lamp patent issued in 1859, and 27579 is a grinding mill patent issued in 1860.

 

[vthepresident]

I tried to look at the patents issued on the dates listed on the tag, to see if there was something that showed up on all of them. No such luck. I wonder if re issues show up like new patents. If not, then this method would not help me narrow it down.

But surely the item belonged to one of the inventions patented on the first date listed anyway. What items were patented on September 6 1846?

V

 

[joecoin]

It's a bottle opener for a Magic City beer.

 

[vthepresident]

I thought it looked bottle openerish too, but the hole is too small

 

[nhbenz]

I'm not sure if I'm reading the first date on there right. I can see Sept 10 clearly, but is it 1846 or 1848? If its 1846, then maybe its part of a sewing machine. Elias Howe patented a great new sewing machine on that date. Perhaps its to a model similar to this? (note arrow in photo)

 

[Angelo]

I'm with Mr. BENZ!

Tony

This Howe carries the serial number 24545

 

[nhbenz]

In 1956 Howe teamed up with Singer to produce home sewing machines. Isaac Singer patented a home machine May 30, 1854. (the last date on your item). So maybe from one of these collaborative machines made in or after 1956?
I suppose I should cite my source: http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/sewmachine.htm