Interesting Piece of "Sliding" Brass

[cambria09]

Hello There. I found this piece of brass a few days ago at a c.1920 home site. The center part can slide in and out of the bracket piece but is retained one end by its taperred shape and by two tabs on the narrow end. It is around 4-IN when fully extended as shown in the last pic and it has indented evenly spaced lines engraved on the sliding part.

I can't find anything related to the "KEARNEY" engraving. What is it??

Thanks for any input and HH. C9

 

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[surf]

Hey Cambria,

I thought at first it was a hinge. On closer inspection, it appears to be a throw bolt. I think it's from:

"Factory: Kearney Foundry & Hinge Factory/ B. F. Levering’s Hinge Factory
Location: Tool Factory building, east of oatmeal mill
Years of operation:
Jan 25, 1890 – Levering patented a door hinge. Will manufacture it here. Asked the city
for $1,400
Feb. 5, 1890 – Work has started on their new buildings 3 blocks east
of oatmeal mill. 24x50 two-story building, 24x51 one-story building, 1⁄4 acre of
sheds. Purchased tool factory to use for light work and finishing.
Apr. 22, 1890 - Proprietor, F. B. Levering; Ready about May 1; large addition built on
tool factory which was built last year. Will also do brass castings and heavy cast
iron work.
Apr. 24, 1890 – Work was progressing
May 10, 1890 – opened
Jan 15, 1891 – Employee of Great Western Hinge Works tried to break into a safe at
Kuhn’s foundry
March 6, 1891 – Expects to begin work in earnest
May 9, 1891 – someone in town negotiating with Great Western Hinge Works
May 18, 1891 – Hinge works to combine with Phillips & Gillette foundry of Fairfield.
Hinge works owners were Whitaker Bros. & Milligan June 1891 – Levering as still in town
Aug. 21, 1895 – Still in town" http://www.oldcottonmill.com/Research/kearney_boom_businesses/hinge_factory.pdf

 

[Southern Brass]

Not much help here but it looks to be an old hinge off of a door of some type

 

[taz42o]

Kearney made electric supplies , they made the old glass insulators for electric wires.

 

[vhs07]

Early electrical tension clamp. If you look at pic #3 you'll notice that both the slide and the rings are tapered, so it can wedge the electrical wire in its grip.
Modern ones are posted on here occasionally.