genuine whatsit

[steelheadwill]

Brass item approximately 3/8 inch diameter widest point. multiple strips of organic material, I would guess some type of animal skin as when heated smells of burning hair.
not rubber. The gray substance in through hole is not substrate from which it was dug, reminds me of something you might see in an Adam and Eve catalog... anyone seen similar?
maybe part of a noise maker like a kids party favor?

 

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[Terry Soloman]

For your consideration:
https://www.rubylane.com/item/1258335-wdfktsw001/Vintage-African-Mali-Natural-Horse-Hair

 

[PaddyB]

Not really my area but reminds me of part of a gun cleaning kit - fitted onto a rod to push or pull through the bore. I would be interested to know the diameter of the brass bit.

 

[kcm]

Looks to me like a round paint brush full of dried paint - very likely horsehair. Handle may have broken off while trying to clean, or maybe they broke the handle off to salvage, then threw the head away.

This is a modern brush. Gotta watch my data usage, so can't keep looking for an exact match:
Chalk Supply Paint Wax Brush White or Black China Bristle SM Med LG Round | eBay

 

[BagLady]

Tiki Torch?

 

[Breezie]

Since it is only 3/8 of an inch, I agree with kcm in that it's a paint brush made of some type of animal hair.


Breezie

 

[mojjax]

Blowgun dart ?

 

[steelheadwill]

Most excellent suggestions all Terry I really like the item in your link, the flat organic pieces are not hair or any brush bristles I'm familiar with.
anyone heard of one with flat bristles?
Paddy b, I'll get a micrometer reading of the diameter when I return home that's a possibility that it's a cleaning jag or whatever the correct term is.
I have seen blowgun darts with similar stabilizers tube seals, this is a tough one I agree.
I now recognize the gray material in the hole is similar to what I see around the carbon cores of recovered ( from tidal salt mud )electrical storage cells sometimes referred to as batteries but usually recovered as single cells.
This clue leads to a new batch of research as Many electric storage cells have been recovered from this area.
I'm thinking it may be a terminal from one of these and the organic material helped to store or evenly distribute electrolyte
I know that patent image searches are possible but I don't know quite how to do that myself, i will try.
any suggestions or help with this is appreciated.

 

[steelheadwill]

Just to be clear the organic flaps are not stuck together bristles so the photos make it looks somewhat like that I believe it is very thin leather or some other animal membrane rather like sausage casing

 

[DCMatt]

Google 'vintage fashion accessory tassel' and look at images.

For some reason Tnet won't let me publish pics today.

DCMatt

 

[steelheadwill]

Thanks Matt, I did so and do see similars,
I've gotten myself pretty convinced of the electric cell terminal id. as when I can examine some of the many semi intact examples I have. I will post. thanks for everyone's assistance

 

[Riff]

End of an ancient spanky stick maybe?

 

[sutphin]

OLD WIRE BRUSH?