Found these metal balls (52 of them)

[Coffee Cars & Cash]

A few years back I was driving around in Ames, IA in an area where a man made lake was beginning to be made. I wasn't hunting for anything, just walking around. I noticed something shiny so I dug it up. I found 51 more of these little metal balls. I cleaned them up and have had them sitting around for a long time. I've never known what they are, but always curious to know.

I have asked several people and I always get the same answer. Ball bearings. I always figured they were a bi-product of something being made.

They are slightly magnetic to each other, they vary in size and some have dimples.

Edit: Guesses so far
ball bearings (sizes differing too much?)
mill balls (too small?)
grape shot from a cannon shell


On a side note, has anyone seen a penny with its face popped out like that? - Solved - Magician coin sold in comic book. a dime fits in one side.

 

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[done dug it all up]

the penny is a magicians coin. I remember them in the comic book ads when I was a kid.


And I can't help you with your balls.

 

[Coffee Cars & Cash]

the penny is a magicians coin. I remember them in the comic book ads when I was a kid.


And I can't help you with your balls.

So the penny is fake? Hmmm... I got it as change years ago. What type of trick can you do with it?

 

[kmcneil]

I believe "they" would put a dime inside and make the penny into a dime, with "magic" ultra cool find

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Someone else has recently found one. I think its a penny to dime trick. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,214686.msg1548832.html#msg1548832.

 

[done dug it all up]

I dont think its a fake penny, just a real one thats been cut.

 

[Monty]

At first I thought the balls were bearings until I saw the flat spots. Now I don't know? Be more inclined to think they are some kind of milling use, rotated in a drum to pulverize a softer material? Monty

 

[Michelle]

At first I thought the balls were bearings until I saw the flat spots. Now I don't know? Be more inclined to think they are some kind of milling use, rotated in a drum to pulverize a softer material? Monty

I wonder What kind of machines do you use to dig a pond?

Would it be possible that these are bearings "worn" from a machine used?

 

[Coffee Cars & Cash]

I am thinking they might be mill balls used to pulverize something (grain?). But would they be polished and smooth from this action?

 

[Cynangyl]

52 of them eh? It seems you have found an ancient calendar device...each Sunday move one ball back to pass the time...when all the balls have been moved back you have amused yourself for a year! What a stupendous find!! Ok ok....I have no clue whatsoever what the balls are about but it would make me nuts had I found them and could not figure it out! Very nice magic coin find though!

 

[Michelle]

52 of them eh? It seems you have found an ancient calendar device...each Sunday move one ball back to pass the time...when all the balls have been moved back you have amused yourself for a year! What a stupendous find!! Ok ok....I have no clue whatsoever what the balls are about but it would make me nuts had I found them and could not figure it out! Very nice magic coin find though!

 

[rmptr]

They could be ball bearings from a piece of farm equipment or excavation machine.
Not lubed properly and it failed grinding flat spots on them til they fell out of the race.
But that's just a wild guess.

The one certainly is much larger... it could have come from a different component at repair time.

I don't think they are from a ball mill. Too small.

Fun stuff!

Thanks for posting.
We like pictures!


rmptr

 

[timekiller]

My first thought was grape shot from a cannon shell. Would be from the CW period. I placed a penny on a golf ball to get an idea of the size and I have seen grape shot this size. Just another thought to add to the process!

 

[simonds]

I don't think they are ball bearings. Ball bearings would be all the exact size if they were in the same race.
They would also be very smooth with no pitting.

 

[Coffee Cars & Cash]

At first I thought the balls were bearings until I saw the flat spots. Now I don't know? Be more inclined to think they are some kind of milling use, rotated in a drum to pulverize a softer material? Monty

monty got it right!!!

any more info?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think its possible that overheated, not greased bearings could get pitted and wear flat but are they all flattened the same way? How many different sizes are there?

 

[72cheyenne]

They look alot like silver solder beads/molten metal that cooled by dropping in water. Just a thought.

 

[Montana Jim]

At first I thought the balls were bearings until I saw the flat spots. Now I don't know? Be more inclined to think they are some kind of milling use, rotated in a drum to pulverize a softer material? Monty

monty got it right!!!

any more info?

I'm sure it's a tumbling medium like Monty said...

 

[creskol]

Don't they use balls like this to clean the inside of cement mixers?

 

[taz42o]

Nickle maybe. As cheyenne said, I think they were formed when hot that is why they have flat spots.