Any ideas?

[payload77]

Found this at the site of an old store built in the 1840's. It's flat brass, and it says "patent 1849". I thought it might be the base to a telegraph, but I'm not sure.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Loco-Digger]

I believe it came out of an old clock.

 

[payload77]

I thought that too. It's a maybe.