handle for something???

[funkman]

Could anyone help me ID what this is? Out with my son MD'ing on Saturday on grounds that a local religious shrine owns. Checked by some picnic benches they have set sup and found a couple of pennies. On the way back I was swinging as I walked and picked this up near a tree. Looks like part of a handle that was broken in half. Other than that the only other thing that pops in my head is maybe a stirrup from a saddle?

Thanks,

Funkman

 

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[jeff of pa]

Is there a Hole where the arrow is Pointing ?

Is there a Cemetery Nearby ?

 

[funkman]

Jeff,

There is a cemetery for the Carmelite priests that is nearby but it is 1/2 mile away. There doesn't seem to be a hole where you mentioned but it looks like there was a piece there that is broken off. Maybe it was a pin and the hole was on the object it came off.
It was found off a walk path that the shrine has around a lake. The cemetary is down the block and across the street. There was in the 1950's some houses and St. Alberts College in this area near the lake.

Here is a close picture of the item where you think the hole might be. Also is a pic of the college that I mentioned and towards the left are the houses.

Thanks,

Funkman

 

[jeff of pa]

a pin would Make sense.

I do think it's a Handle and Possably a Coffin handle.
Altho it dosn't appear to be as Ornate as the ones I'v seen.

 

[funkman]

Thanks Jeff,

Did not even think of that. I will have to go to the area again and see if I can find anything else near it. Hopefully not the coffin

I will see if I can find any other info about this area.

Thanks again.

Funkman

 

[jeff of pa]

There could be several reasons for it being there.

One is possably with some fill.

I noticed around here, When they Dig to bury someone,
they take the Extra dirt & Discard it nearby.
IF they were to dig in the wrong place, They could Sideswipe
a Forgotten Grave, bringing up pieces, which could end up
outside the cemetery, and eventually Kicked or carried elswhere.

of course Coffin Makers also made other items, so, the type of Connections could be the same.
as I said Coffin Handles that I have seen have been Very Decorative & in Most cases had Silver Plating.

Of course Not everyone could afford that I'm Sure.
you Just Never Know

HH
Jeff

 

[dg39]

I think it is probably half of a casket handle or a handle off some type of box. Everything points to that. The connecting point was on the object. The handle would swing up or down.

 

[Michelle]

In the one shot of this it does look like a handle ! pretty cool...show more if you find it....any....! I know of a cemetary that got completely moved when people were digging and stuff...nobody stopped it and now the poor souls are without markers and markers are just sitting in odd places with no souls below them...Terrible...Found this handle in a corn field....family plot is about 200 -300 ft. away from where we found it....kind of creepy that someone actually got that close to digging them up!

 

[funkman]

Thanks for the replies Jeff and Michelle.

I know this is a silly question but based on things people have found in the past, any idea on how old this handle could be? It is not iron since I was discriminating against iron when searching and I think iron would have shown rust. I think it came across as zinc on my detector but could be wrong. Would have to wave it under the coil to be definate.
Just curious on the possible age.

Thanks,

Funkman.

p.s. the area I was searching was bought by the Carmelite Order in 1917 according to the shrine website. It is a big area to search and I am taking it little by little. I just have to get more systematic in my searching, not just walking any which way. Any pointers on this aspect would be appreciated also.

 

[Michelle]

not real sure what it's made of...looks kind of porous in the pic...sort of like cast something no rust so could it be a lead?!

 

[EDDE]

elbow of a hacksaw or maybe a ice skate blade

 

[jeff of pa]

Everyone I found Seemed like White Metal.
They all gave Good Signals.

altho it could have been the remaining Silver Plating that helped.

Check this & Compare
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,35545.0.html

 

[dg39]

Here's a thought. It could very well be a door pull for an early automobile...

 

[dg39]

Its not a thumbscrew doc, Its got an indentation for a hinge protrusion. Its a handle.

 

[Michelle]

Doc, I build things all the time...and have used c clamps of all kinds that handle looks nothing like a c clamp....Stop it! It is a handle!

 

[funkman]

I have to agree with a handle, but the coffin handles seem to be either ornate or at least rounded. This handle I think would have been a bit uncomfortable since the part that someone would carry the item with is completely flat, but what the heck do I know....I'm a computer programmer dammit...not a coffin maker!!

Anyway thanks all for the replies. As a side note, you all know the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".............WWWWEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL . I was trying the old cleaning the penny trick with a pencil eraser on it and I accidently broke the portion that would have attached to the coffin/box. This is the section that Jeff circled. Pushed too hard on it and it snapped off. Probably was made of lead as Michelle had mentioned. Have to learn to leave well enough alone.

Funkman

 

[Michelle]

OOPS, you know the coffins way back when days had basic old handles not fancy things that we see now...this could be one of the end handles instead of side one....not sure...so happy hunting and dont do that anymore....

 

[funkman]

yes maam......as Lou Costello used to say..... "I'm a BAAAAAD boy!"

 

[funkman]

Doc,

from looking at this photo, it looks like something broke off the section that is circled. I'm assuming (and we all know what happens when you assume) that whatever held it on and allowed it to swing was on the part that broke off, possibly a pin since it is a small section that broke off.

I can see the c-clamp theory also if we assume that this is the upper portion of the clamp that is fixed (not movable) but the way the portion that is circled is offset to one side does not help this theory though. I would think a clamp would have the circled portion be even on both sides. But again, computer programmer....not tool maker.

Funkman

 

[funkman]

will have to search that area more and see if I can come up with anything else that might shed some light on what exactly this is. If Jeff is correct that it might have come from landfill, then I might not find anymore to it. I can also see dekalb33 with his ice skate theory. There is a pond there that people have used for ice skating and I'm sure they skated on it in the past. That would explain the flatness of the object, just don't see how it would have attached to the sole with the portion that Jeff circled.

Funkman