Heavy Brass Old Thing

[Orbit]

I know one of you will know exactly what this is. I've been meaning to post a photo and ask all summer. It weighs about 1/2 pound. The hole goes all the way through. I was thinking it might be a window or door latch, a buggy, old car or tractor part. Been researching but coming up empty. Thank you for looking at whatever this thing is.

 

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[Joe-Dirt]

I have no idea, looks like it is some sort of a shifter. Someone will pipe up soon. Congrats

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Interesting that it has a hole cast through the round 'top' section.
The decorative shape of the casting tells me that it was meant to be seen.

I have no idea what it was from, but date wise I'm thinking late 19thc or earlier.
Dave

 

[DCMatt]

Arm for a windshield mounted "peep" mirror?

 

[dozer dan]

Andiron foot.

 

[creskol]

How big is the hole in the knob portion, and is it threaded?

 

[Radon]

Maybe a lever for a farm tractor hydraulic valve? The hole in the knob portion could be to hold on a larger plastic knob ball.

 

[Orbit]

Creskol it is close to a 1/4 of an inch. Not threaded. Thanks for looking at this.

 

[Orbit]

Hey thanks for all the possible i'd's here

I looked at some andiron Dozer Dan. It feels heavy enough but I don't think it is that after looking around. Hard to tell. Thanks, you may be right in the end.

Atiquarian I do believe it's age is very much what you suggested, 19th or even 18th. I love it that it is that old even if I don't have a clue what it is haha.

Thank you Joe Dirt. That is a good suggestion to consider.

Dc Matt. If it weren't as thick and heavy, made from brass I think the form of the thing really does resemble a peep mirror mount!

Radon that sounds reasonable as well. A real mystery for sure.

So, I can't seem to find a great photo of what I think it might be. Look at the top of this carriage to the roof-top luggage rack. There is a rail with a small metal bar going all around the carriage top to secure luggage. I am thinking along the lines that this might be one of those supports, not to this specific carriage but, to a similar one maybe. What do you guys think?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

So, I can't seem to find a great photo of what I think it might be. Look at the top of this carriage to the roof-top luggage rack. There is a rail with a small metal bar going all around the carriage top to secure luggage. I am thinking along the lines that this might be one of those supports, not to this specific carriage but, to a similar one maybe. What do you guys think?

"top of this carriage to the roof-top luggage rack" is a great theory, wouldn't that be cool if you turned out to be correct.
Dave

 

[creskol]

Creskol it is close to a 1/4 of an inch. Not threaded. Thanks for looking at this.

Next question ... Does it go all the way through?

 

[Orbit]

Missed that. Good question. It does creskol.

 

[HuntinDog]

1/4" would be to light to be a luggage rack border.
A Real head scratcher....

 

[creskol]

Missed that. Good question. It does creskol.

I have a thought on this, but I am out of town until Tuesday. When I get back home, I will check one of my reference books to verify my thought, and if it pans out, I will post it.

 

[Hawks88]

To me it looks like it may have had a chain attached to the ball end where the small hole is. Being made of brass I’m thinking because it was meant to withstand changing weather conditions. Now I’m thinking maybe from a train or boat. Could it be a lever for a steam whistle or air horn. Good luck. Very interesting find.

 

[Force_of_Iron]

Im pretty sure the back side is a mortise to lock it into masonary. The hole isn't quite big enough for a rod for anything but a very light curtain. Large old houses would have a two stage curtain. A heavy outer and a light inner just to block the intensity of the light on windows facing the sun. This is for that inner curtain or for some other thing that was mortised into a wall.

 

[Breezie]

Hey Orbit,
I think your item is a 'fender' of some type. It could be a Victorian fireplace fender. They were originally made to prevent logs from rolling out of the fireplace, and later for decorative purposes.

OR . . .it could be an 1800's cargo fender on top of a stagecoach to prevent luggage (and of course . . the strong box filled with $$$) from falling off.

There are not that many items that were round brass balls at that time. Since yours had a 'heavy attachment end,' I'm going with the brass ball portion as decoration and the business end for heavy attachment.

Since it has a manufactured hole, I don't think it is 'foot.' I also don't think it is a brass Saloon foot prop rail ball or a curtain/drapery end cap or a ball on a brass bed because of the heavy business end.

My vote is a fender. Here are few: https://www.google.com/search?biw=8...&ved=0ahUKEwjshu_i9LrlAhXM1FkKHSc8DV0Q4dUDCAY



Neat Find
Breezie

 

[creskol]

Here is a clue .. The screw seats are tapered which indicates that it was mounted on wood and held in place by wood screws.

 

[Force_of_Iron]

Here is a clue .. The screw seats are tapered which indicates that it was mounted on wood and held in place by wood screws.

How did I not see that. My guess wasn't worth the paper it was written on. If it were written on paper of course.

 

[DCMatt]

Dc Matt. If it weren't as thick and heavy, made from brass I think the form of the thing really does resemble a peep mirror mount!

IMO being brass and thick and heavy makes it MORE likely to be a "brass era" automobile part (turn of the 20th up to about 1915).