ca. 1877 Fort Custer, Montana relic- Please help identify-brass military item/fixture

jagdpolizei

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Nov 26, 2012
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Montana
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Garrett ace 250
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Relic Hunting
DSCN0881.JPGDSCN0883[1].JPGView attachment 705536DSCN0882[1].JPGHello.....the three items shown were all recovered in the 1970's from Fort Custer near Hardin, MT (Crow Agency). I added the cavalry plume to the M1874 helmet plume holder and have identified the other item as the sword pommel (brass). The unknown item is similar patina and assumed brass as well. When it was new and in use, this item looked to have been 'umbrella shaped' with an approx. 2" hollow brass tube ( same size a 12 ga shotgun shell) leading perpendicular into the roundel which was approx. 3.5"- 4" diameter before it had been crushed down against the tube. Where the tube connects to the roundel, there is a button shaped head with a .22" sized hole in the end. See pics.
All three items were found in the area of Fort Custer and the plume holder is confirmed to be for the early 1874 helmet, not the 1881 model. Assumed to all be from around 1877. Just dying to know what the tube/roundel is for? Thanks so much in advance
 

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I cant tell for sure but it looks like a Kerosine Lamp piece to me
 

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I agree with Kruger. Part of a lamp or lantern.


I dunno... if it is a wick holder, how was it adjusted up when in use? I'm assuming the other side of the piece looks the same as the side showing. I've never run across a wick holder like that, but then again, I'm from back East.
 

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This is the only problem I have with this relic fitting this description.....all of the 1800's kerosene lamps have the slotted wick holder for the flat material wick. This is round and approx .22" diameter....I have seen some of the oil lamp variations (whale oil lamps included) with the round wick holder.....I have not yet found any variation sporting the tube and spigot like this....was hoping to see a period lamp with the exact design....it sure seems to fit the bill better than anything else I can imagine from this period or in the use of the 1870's military on the frontier
I dunno... if it is a wick holder, how was it adjusted up when in use? I'm assuming the other side of the piece looks the same as the side showing. I've never run across a wick holder like that, but then again, I'm from back East.
 

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This is the only problem I have with this relic fitting this description.....all of the 1800's kerosene lamps have the slotted wick holder for the flat material wick. This is round and approx .22" diameter....I have seen some of the oil lamp variations (whale oil lamps included) with the round wick holder.....I have not yet found any variation sporting the tube and spigot like this....was hoping to see a period lamp with the exact design....it sure seems to fit the bill better than anything else I can imagine from this period or in the use of the 1870's military on the frontier

:coffee2:...I am looking as well...no luck as of yet
 

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This is the only problem I have with this relic fitting this description.....all of the 1800's kerosene lamps have the slotted wick holder for the flat material wick. This is round and approx .22" diameter....I have seen some of the oil lamp variations (whale oil lamps included) with the round wick holder.....I have not yet found any variation sporting the tube and spigot like this....was hoping to see a period lamp with the exact design....it sure seems to fit the bill better than anything else I can imagine from this period or in the use of the 1870's military on the frontier
I think you guys are very close, It's a kero part alright, but not the wickholder. It's more like the flue end of a "later era" brooder heater. I will dig some out and post some pics if you like as time allows.
 

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