Found on Military Pass/Lockhart Emigrant Wagon Road

[WriterofWords]

Hello, I'd like suggestions on what this artifact might be. It was found in N. Ca. on the old wagon road used by the military and settlers going through the area. The star is made of lead and it is mounted on a what seems to be a wooden dowel of soft wood. We ruled out any type of brand due to the star being lead and it would have melted. The artifact sheet it is on is marked in 1/2" squares. We would sure appreciate any help out there. Thank you very much!
Kat L.

 

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[vic910]

I don't know what it is, but what a great find!!!

vicki

 

[jimmyokla]

maybe part of a butter churn?man I have no clue sorry

 

[tammahawk]

very odd, maybee the lead was some sort of heavy base to hold the wooden dowel upright for some reason maybee a coat rack that wouldnt fall over if it was waited, ,i found a chunk of twisted lead the other day that looked like a thick lead knife was weird looked cut and twisted, but any what it is dunno? cool find keep us posted ,tammahawk

 

[WriterofWords]

Thanks for so many replies, I appreciate the time you spend checking on these things! The grid it is on is 1/2 inch squares, it is only 3 - 4 inches long total and not that heavy. The lead star is fairly light for lead and about half an inch thick. One suggestion we had that I found particularly interesting was a brand for the cheek of a sheep. But we felt that the star could not take the heat required for a brand and would melt if held over a fire for long at all. There are some light grooves in the wood as if it possible had been inserted into something and the grooves meant to hold it in. I'll be working that area again in June and recording more of the trail; I'll be passing along all of these wonderful suggestions. Thanks again!
Kat L.

 

[tammahawk]

maybee some kinda gear for some old farming equipment?

 

[WriterofWords]

I think it is too soft for a gear. That is part of what has us stumped, it is too soft for so many things.

 

[JARMAN]

Words,I to thought at first brand iron or some sort of cog,but not with lead.very very . Hope you find out so we all will know.HH

 

[Leon]

Only guess I would have is " top of an old flag pole "...
Hope ya figure it out, I hate finding something, and not knowing what it is, or was...

 

[Floater]

Actually I think Leon might have hit it. The ornament being the star and the groove in the wood dowel where the lanyard was. Boy that sure sounds like it to me.

 

[WriterofWords]

Going by size, composition and angle of the star on the wooden stem we feel pretty certain it was not the top to a flagpole. If anyone has a picture of a flag pole piece that looks like this I would be very interested in seeing it though, I never rule out anything without looking into deeper. Thanks!

 

[ozzysdad]

It remind's me of the planter peice i remember seeing on some of my grandfather's old farming equip. Like the part that rotated in the bottom of the seed bucket that dropped a few seed's every so many inches? Maybe the lead was used to ease the friction like a bearing?

 

[WriterofWords]

That's an interesting idea, I'll run it by the crew! Thanks.