lead shot cast from Thimble used as mold , colonial farm

[Wild Colonial Boy]

any idea what this may be

cylindrical lead shot cast from Thimble, or game piece

you can see thimble decoration on top and sides

whats very unusual is the top decoration the dots are protruding where as on thimbles they are indented

found at 1600-1700 colonial farm

 

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[Tony in SC]

I think you're right, cast in a thimble. Cool find!!

 

[Tpmetal]

Absolutely crazy, never seen anything like it

 

[ticndig]

maybe it was a scale weight ?

 

[villagenut]

Looks like the dimples are facing out in the third pic. If it were cast from a thimble I would think the dimples would be inward. I don't recall seeing thimbles with outies but only innies.

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

correct

I had that in my description, opens more questions
"whats very unusual is the top decoration the dots are protruding where as on thimbles they are indented"

 

[Red-Coat]

maybe it was a scale weight ?

On this side of the pond we do occasionally see lead scale weights produced using a thimble as a convenient mould. This one was found not far from where I live.



Usually they're very old though. The thimble used for this one had its dimples hand-punched from the outside. So, the inside of the thimble had corresponding protrusions and those created indented dimples on the cast piece. It also has a shallow hole cut into the base, which was partly result of getting it out of the mould and then also a way of bringing the lead to a precise weight. I don't know whether that's what you have, but it's not an unknown thing.

 

[ticndig]

I feel the thimble was used as the form in the making of a sand mold into which the lead was poured.
then the lead was trimmed to the desired weight.

 

[firemanphob]

If it were used to make a sand mold, the dents would be in just like the thimble. not with the dents out.

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Thank You, Ist reference, I like Surrey stayed in Ewhurst a few Christmases ago, I am going to weigh it now to see where it stands, my bottom, looks just like a poured overlap

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Yep

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

found this
Lead thimble - Friendly Metal Detecting Forums

 

[Gare]

Now this is JUST A SUGGESTION !! Could it possibly be a home made fishing weight ?

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Now this is JUST A SUGGESTION !! Could it possibly be a home made fishing weight ?

why not, they could insert eye later

 

[bradyboy]

if it was cast in a thimble, considering the inside of the thimble wasnt smooth, how would you extract the lead from a mold that isnt smooth?
it surly wouldnt just slide out unless the lead shrinks while cooling
Just asking
Brady

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

not sure about anything with this piece

assuming it was a thimble

assuming the inside of the thimble wasn't smooth,

or small indentations

or break open thimble