I found it!!!!! Am I lucky or what?

[peteacher37]

Ok experts. I am about a year into this awesome hobby and I have a way of finding things and feel I should be happy. However, I never know what the heck I should be happy about. I really find some strange things. I found this brass item today near a civil war camp. I cleaned it up on my electric wire wheel because I couldn't resist! Sorry! Anyway, if you know will you please tell me what you think this is? Oh and I also found a 14 pound sledge hammer close by! Thanks for motivating me with all of your posts! You guys and this site are the best!

 

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[Chug And Red]

OUCH!!! No idea!!!

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

What the heck 8) early Q -tip CMD

 

[celtex]

some kind of meat or spud holder for cooking?

 

[goldencoin]

It is probably some version of this http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-drying-rack-corn-forged-cast-iron or perhaps an ornate lightning rod considering its composition. Also, I HIGHLY recommend fighting the urge to do any cleaning beyond a simple rinsing, which includes rubbing coins as soon as they come out of the ground. I'd practice cleaning on common finds (like old memorial cents) and try to keep away from using abrasive of acidic means of cleaning- Good Job!

HH
-GC

 

[MKnTenn]

I seem to remember seeing something like yours and they called it the top of a lightning rod, it was also found in a Civil War camp, so maybe they had these posted around the perimeter of the camp to help with lightning strikes, just my guess. You should never "shine" your relics, it kills the value.

 

[47thelement]

I cleaned it up on my electric wire wheel because I couldn't resist!

Dang!
PE Teacher-

Somebody shouled snap you in the buttocks with a rolled up towel!

 

[peteacher37]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm starting to believe its a lightning rod top. Anybody know how old it might be?

 

[Goes4ever]

I don't know what it is but I found one just like it or very similar on Labor day, same site where my buddy and I dug 3 silver halves!

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Looks like a sweet hood ornament

 

[Slipperyjack47]

tuff guy toilet paper!



Slipperyjack47

 

[colorado14ers]

hmmmm? maybe a really old murder tool! you might have solved a very old mystery !!

 

[underdogger]

Boy That is an odd piece . I think it might be a tool for punching leather . some sort of sewing tool would be my guess . I may be in left field on that. Or a horrifing doctors blood letting devise cool find what ever it is my friend welcome to t-net Rob

 

[haybudden2]

I think GOLDENCOIN has the link that is the closest
to IDing this thing.
It is interesting in their description they say : a forged
cast iron item"
It's either forger or cast, it can't be both.
Be carefull as to what is read as fact.

Very interesting find, I can't find anything just like it in
the books I reference going back to 1650. I don't think
it's that old, but I does seem to be rare.

Neat....

Hay2

 

[peteacher37]

Thanks Hay2 for that info. Im feeling exactly what you said. Just thought I would add the knob on the end appears to be knurled as if it might have screwed onto something. Does that help date this item? Oh yeah and why are the tines extremely pointy?

 

[BuckleBoy]

tag.

 

[billjustbill]

Ok experts. I am about a year into this awesome hobby and I have a way of finding things and feel I should be happy. However, I never know what the heck I should be happy about. I really find some strange things. I found this brass item today near a civil war camp. I cleaned it up on my electric wire wheel because I couldn't resist! Sorry! Anyway, if you know will you please tell me what you think this is? Oh and I also found a 14 pound sledge hammer close by! Thanks for motivating me with all of your posts! You guys and this site are the best!

Looks like a the fancy tip of a lightening rod. Don't see this kind very much. Great find...wire brush and all!!!

 

[duggap]

I think Charles Harris has changed his opinion and now calls it a lightning rod tip. For some reason they seem to be fairly common in the Chattanooga area.

 

[GopherDaGold]

You are lucky it didn't find YOU!

 

[Tuberale]

I think GOLDENCOIN has the link that is the closest
to IDing this thing.
It is interesting in their description they say : a forged
cast iron item"
It's either forger or cast, it can't be both.
Be carefull as to what is read as fact.

Very interesting find, I can't find anything just like it in
the books I reference going back to 1650. I don't think
it's that old, but I does seem to be rare.

Neat....

Hay2

Sometimes forged means forgery. Sometimes it just means made on a forge, or simply made.

Unique find, teach2! Item does look brass: I'd have done the same cleaning with it. Maybe not the best thing for relics, but I mostly find other things. Say it is a lightening rod: might have been hit, and electroplated with nearby metal or coated with glass slag from soil. I like it as is. Probably rare enough to have value either way.