Fireplace Finds

[villagenut]

Hopefully I am not asking too many "What"s it" questions, but I v'e got a few not answered relics on my hands here. These were recently found under an old house inside the brick base of the double fireplace that had been removed long long ago, leaving just the remnants under the house. Were these associated with the chimney or what else. Three and one half inches in diameter, steel, and looks like the one with the hump works with the other type with the dip in the center. Countersunk holes tell me that these sides faced out. That's all I know. Thanks for looking.

 

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[Tony in SC]

They look like the end plates from an old starter/generator from an old car/tractor. Tony

 

[villagenut]

They look like the end plates from an old starter/generator from an old car/tractor. Tony

Thanks Tony, I looked those items up and they look similar but doesn't explain why the two different designs, the bump and the dip, how they worked together, if they did.One even has some paint residue. The plates that I looked up seemed to all have holes in them.

 

[HAPPYCAMPER]

First thought bracket for chimney damper....but tapered mounting holes seem to suggest wood screws held these in place..maybe some types of closet rod brackets?

 

[ohiowhiteguy]

i'm thinking they are the top and bottom plate from an old support post used to hold the basement beam..
did you find and poles near it
owg..

 

[villagenut]

i'm thinking they are the top and bottom plate from an old support post used to hold the basement beam..
did you find and poles near it
owg..

No basement here and the entire joist framing is made up of old re-claimed barn beams used as the rim joists and sawmill cut lumber mixed in, all put together using shiplap connections with pegs. All sitting on the old brick piers or earlier oak piers.These cast pieces were the only ones like it under the house and they were in the fireplace niche.I photographed and made records of all the under framing so I covered every inch but saw nothing like these in any of the framing though.Nothing too fancy under there.

 

[cudamark]

What do the other sides look like?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Any of the beams have round dents on the underside that size? A Bottle jack frequently has a small piston and that may have been to spread the load so it didn't just poke up into the wood if they had to splice in or shim up a beam sometime in the past.

Just a guess.

 

[villagenut]

What do the other sides look like?

 

[villagenut]

Any of the beams have round dents on the underside that size? A Bottle jack frequently has a small piston and that may have been to spread the load so it didn't just poke up into the wood if they had to splice in or shim up a beam sometime in the past.

Just a guess.

I suppose it is possible but I think the home was built with back and hand strength alone, did not really see any dents, but wasn't really looking for them either.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

How it was built does not necessarily follow how it has been maintained since. Old floors sag and creak and need attention.

 

[villagenut]

How it was built does not necessarily follow how it has been maintained since. Old floors sag and creak and need attention.

Yes aint that the truth. So if these were for use with a bottle jack of some sort, would these needed to be screwed to the beam before jacking it? I just never imagined that the metal plates would have needed countersunk mounting holes, but yes it is possible. I am supposing that a setup like this photo from the net is what you are talking about. You very well may be spot on with the jack idea, Thanks Charlie.

 

[cudamark]

They're definitely not end plates for a generator or starter. I wouldn't think they would be a jack plate either. They look to be cast iron rather than steel. That would make them too brittle for that use. They look like a pivot point for something. Not decorative enough for a window blind or shower curtain rod. Probably something industrial/agricultural.