Brass Ball What is It ?? please Help

[jimbonito58]

At first I thought I had something here when this popped out of the ground . you can imagine how my ATPro was screaming 88, 99, crazy I scratched it thinking it was a rock . It was only 2 to 4 inches down ... it is about 2 and a half pounds of cast brass i,m thinking possibly some type or ornamental top of something a flag pole ? a fence post ? why would it be so heavy 1/8 inch thick and you can see in one picture the structure inside like a ridge with a hole in it . when I place it down the weight or balance is away from that hole or opening ... driving me nuts .. to find out what this might be ... the ground and area I,m hunting is old for sure found a flat button and researched site definitely old area 1700 1800 but also 1900 ... any ideas or if anyone has seen this type of ball would be majorly appreciated ha .. Jim B ( Dumpsite Digger ) ... at very 1st I was thinking cannonball but read they where not made of brass too expensive and soft ..

 

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[Backwoodsbob]

How deep is the hole.?

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[NWMP]

If it was cold out it may have come off a wooden monkey. Possibly a flag pole top.

 

[huntsman53]

I would have to agree with NWMP that it is a finial from a flag pole!


Frank

 

[ivan salis]

well check ball to seal off water flow lift lever --check ball raises and water flows ....lower it the ball shuts off water flow

 

[jimbonito58]

Backwoods bob the hole down at the bottom when you look threw the opening is threaded and a little less than 1/2 deep ... but it is a heavy object thanks guys also it was not down deep in ground 3 inches maybe

 

[Anduril]

It sort of looks like an AM Broadcast tower lightning arrestor ball gap.
See: http://www.w8ji.com/images/Grounding/ball-gap.jpg

It isn't, and I think those are made of plain galvanized anyway, not brass.
Still, thought you might enjoy seeing how engineers keep lightning from destroying AM radio broadcast band transmitters.
"Low-tech" still has a place in today's world! (The charge just jumps across the gap. Pretty cool!)

 

[Bruce R]

I think I saw one of those in the laboratory in a Frankenstein movie. LOL

 

[kcm]

Sure has me stumped! Can't even think of a "possible" use for something like that.

For a little clarity, there is the larger, oblong hole - but were you explaining that there is a smaller, threaded hole inside the ball? Or is it that the oblong hole is threaded?

 

[jimbonito58]

KCM ... cause backwoods bob asked me .... ah whatever its mine now hahaha thanks for writing guess ill never know what it really is but I like Brass in general so .. its kind cool

 

[huntsman53]

Sure has me stumped! Can't even think of a "possible" use for something like that.

For a little clarity, there is the larger, oblong hole - but were you explaining that there is a smaller, threaded hole inside the ball? Or is it that the oblong hole is threaded?

I am pretty sure he is talking about inside! See pic #3 and you can see a hole inside and a little right of center in relation to the large oblong hole. This further leads me to believe that the item (ball) is a finial from a flag pole. The threaded hole would secure the finial to the top of the flag pole which likely extended from the truck in the form of a bolt. The reason that the large hole is oblong, is likely due to the finial getting loose (unscrewed from it's anchor bolt) and many years of wind and vibration routing out the hole.


Frank

 

[jimbonito58]

Huntsman53 ... Thats what I feel it is also , but just wasn't sure . thanks also it sure is a nice hunk of brass

 

[Bruce R]

Taking a stab here, could it be a weight from a tall case clock, where the weight is adjusted by adding or removing lead shot ? A long thin rod with an eye on top could be screwed inside and still leave room to add or subtract shot.

 

[digging440yrs]

Maybe this-----------Andirons

 

[Bruce R]

Maybe this---------View attachment 1314984--Andirons

I like this one much, much, much, much better!!!

 

[NOLA_Ken]

possibly from a steam engine governor....

 

[Backwoodsbob]

Both are a good guess.

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[Oddjob]

Looks like a Flag Pole Truck to me.

 

[jimbonito58]

Thanks to all for the input ... in identifying this brass ball for me ... Jim B

 

[lastleg]

A bowling ball for duck pins?