🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Any ideas?

[NightHawk88]

Copper or brass? Idk how to tell the difference with the reddish patina.

The little rod going through the center can be removed in and out.

Found in an area where there could be something old but everything else I found was fairly modern.

Has the numbers 212 on one side of the rim and 62 (maybe another number here I can't make out)

Thanks in advance.

 

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[Tedyoh]

I think your red patina is actually red paint, which leads me to believe it's a part off an old toy fire engine or toy train maybe? w/e it is, it looks familiar.....

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe a filler cap of some kind just based on the shape and the flared bottom edge. Possibly from an oil lamp or burner. The "arm" on the top would have served as a "keeper" in lieu of a chain. I don't get the bar running through it, though...

 

[Bucket Lister]

I agree the red looks more like paint.
Are any of the parts magnetic?

It looks like the bent bar can rotate out of the way of the straight bar (thimking "aloud").

Do the ends of the bars look like they just rotted through, or might they have been cut/made that way?

If the "bell" is not magnetic, I think it's more likely brass than copper. YMMV.

 

[Limitool]

Some electrical component...?

 

[Blackfoot58]

Reminds me of a fusible link for something operated on DC current.
If so, the straight bar was once fused/soldered to the curved arm. When over-current occurs, it would melt apart to protect the device.
Just a guess.

 

[Tpmetal]

Reminds me of a fusible link for something operated on DC current.
If so, the straight bar was once fused/soldered to the curved arm. When over-current occurs, it would melt apart to protect the device.
Just a guess.

Although a good thought, the two pieces being connected to the same device through conductive metal makes this idea not possible. Electricity would still flow. Unless I'm missing something here in your explanation.

 

[NightHawk88]

I agree the red looks more like paint.
Are any of the parts magnetic?

It looks like the bent bar can rotate out of the way of the straight bar (thimking "aloud").

Do the ends of the bars look like they just rotted through, or might they have been cut/made that way?

If the "bell" is not magnetic, I think it's more likely brass than copper. YMMV.

I tested the piece, none of it reacts to a magnet.

Looks like one part of the rod rotted thru and the other is grooved on both ends kind of looks like it meant to fit into the the curved bar.

 

[NightHawk88]

I think your red patina is actually red paint, which leads me to believe it's a part off an old toy fire engine or toy train maybe? w/e it is, it looks familiar.....

You could be on to something here. This was found near an old school and 212 was a model of an old fire truck...

Kind of looks similar to the top of one of the fire hydrants maybe but many other aspects about the piece especially the rod going thru it make it seem more instrument-like to me. I agree though definitly looks familiar...

 

[Bucket Lister]

I tested the piece, none of it reacts to a magnet.

Looks like one part of the rod rotted thru and the other is grooved on both ends kind of looks like it meant to fit into the the curved bar.

Hmmm...

In a couple of shots, it looks like the dome may have been removable, and am I seeing slots?

The condition of the bars compared to the condition of the "housing" (for lack of correct term) suggests the bars are made of a different metal/alloy. Usually when I find something really corrupted/cruddy, it's zinc.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Although a good thought, the two pieces being connected to the same device through conductive metal makes this idea not possible. Electricity would still flow. Unless I'm missing something here in your explanation.

That may be. I wasn’t seeing it very clearly.👍🏼