✅ SOLVED 3 numbered cogs... very odd!

[Iron Buzz]

I'm not the finder. This was posted on the metal detecting Facebook group that I participate in. If there are any questions, I can attempt to get an answer from the finder but I can't promise. I find the piece to be very intriguing though and figured that you guys would, too.



What the finder has said about it: Each wheel has #s 0-9 on them, made of iron. The middle wheel has a small shaft on one of the cogs, and the first wheel has a cog broken off on the same spot as the middle one with shaft.

A couple of things that I've noticed:

The font for the numbers seems fancier than would be strictly necessary so probably meant to be seen on a regular basis.
Both the numbering and the direction of the cogs alternate. Counter-clockwise, then clockwise, then counter-clockwise again.

 

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[Tony in SC]

They are three seperate wheels? I would gues post office box?

 

[Iron Buzz]

They are three seperate wheels? I would gues post office box?

They seem to be separate. Please explain... how would they work on a PO box?

 

[Plug N Play]

The alternating wheels have me thinking it might be the insides of a mechanical counter.

 

[Iron Buzz]

The alternating wheels have me thinking it might be the insides of a mechanical counter.


View attachment 1855445

Good thought! I just poured through a bunch of Google Images using "antique mechanical counter" as the keywords, and wayyyy down at the bottom of the page:

 

[desertexplorer]

Your find is a seed counter from an early grain drill (late 1800’s-early 1900’s). It’d be hard to nail down year and make since so many different manufacturers made them but here are a few examples from different makes just to give an idea of the wide variety of styles including an image Iron Buzz found.

 

[Iron Buzz]

Your find is a seed counter from an early grain drill (late 1800’s-early 1900’s). It’d be hard to nail down year and make since so many different manufacturers made them but here are a few examples from different makes just to give an idea of the wide variety of styles including an image Iron Buzz found.View attachment 1855587View attachment 1855588View attachment 1855589View attachment 1855590View attachment 1855591

Thanks, desertexplorer! That adds a lot to the story. I have passed that along to the finder who will surely appreciate the information as much as I do.