Lid? For what?

[invent4hir]

All, this was found near where a 19th century farmhouse once stood until it was demolished in 2011. It measures about 2.5” long x 2” wide. It is non-magnetic, seems light weight for its size, brittle, and difficult to straighten given how thin the metal is. On the left and right side of the first picture is screw with a flat-head screwdriver slot which makes me think it is a lid of some sort that opens/closes about those screws. In the center is a faint circle B with the number 120 appearing below it. There may be another number after the “0” — can’t tell. I searched images of match, snuff, and tobacco boxes — but saw nothing like it. I’d appreciate answers to the following questions:

1. What is it?
2. About how old is it?
3. Is the circle B a monogram or maker’s mark?
4. What does the “120” indicate?

 

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[Rum Tide]

I am thinking more like a cover or a cap from a machine or a piece of equipment.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Ancient battery hull?? I dunno, that’s a good one

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I have no idea but it looks to be 'utilitarian' as opposed to 'decorative' in nature.
'Non-magnetic' metal means it's likely to be made of zinc due to the corrosion, this also means that it's non-conductive to electricity.
Could be from anything from an early electrical panel, or as Rum Tide mentioned... "from a machine or a piece of equipment."

Dave

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe a cover for a strap buckle?

 

[invent4hir]

I am thinking more like a cover or a cap from a machine or a piece of equipment.

Rum Tide, thanks for the possible ID, I'll check it out.

 

[invent4hir]

I have no idea but it looks to be 'utilitarian' as opposed to 'decorative' in nature.
'Non-magnetic' metal means it's likely to be made of zinc due to the corrosion, this also means that it's non-conductive to electricity.
Could be from anything from an early electrical panel, or as Rum Tide mentioned... "from a machine or a piece of equipment."

Dave

Dave, good observations, that give me more to think about. Regarding zinc, does it show a bright silver color when scratched/cracked?

 

[xr7ator]

I have no idea but I know what I'd do with it. Then, I'd get back out there and find something cool!

Second thought is "120" is volts, so a type of electrical box.

Maybe it's because I'm not back east, but when I dig crap like that I toss it in the trash.

 

[invent4hir]

Maybe a cover for a strap buckle?

DCMatt, thanks I'll have to look into that possibility.

 

[owlcreek]

Its a cover off a junction box on a electric motor or off a well pressure switch.

 

[invent4hir]

Its a cover off a junction box on a electric motor or off a well pressure switch.

owlcreek, thanks I'll be busy this weekend looking into your IDs and those offered above. Hopefully, I can run this to ground.

 

[invent4hir]

I have no idea but I know what I'd do with it. Then, I'd get back out there and find something cool!

Second thought is "120" is volts, so a type of electrical box.

Maybe it's because I'm not back east, but when I dig crap like that I toss it in the trash.

xr7ator, actually I had thrown this away, but changed my mind because: 1) I wasn’t sure what it was and; 2) I wondered if the circle B could be associated with one of the families who had lived in the home. The jury is still out on both.

Finding “cool” stuff is great. Because I donate nearly all historically relevant finds to local historical societies, “cool” to me is an artifact that can tell a story to young and old alike. As far as I know that isn’t an east or west coast thing it’s an invent4hir thing. Fortunately we all have the freedom to define what “cool” and “crap” means to us.

Still I do throw away my share. Sometimes though “crap” turns out to be “cool”. For example, the picture on the left is what I originally IDed as a good luck charm - nothing to get too excited about. It wasn’t until I heard a presentation on a fort built in the 1790s did I realize it actually was a strike-a-light. Obviously, its “cool”ness factor grew in my mind, as starting fires was a necessity in pioneer life. Thankfully I cleaned it up (right picture) rather than tossed it in the trash!

Thanks for the 120 volts.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Dave, good observations, that give me more to think about. Regarding zinc, does it show a bright silver color when scratched/cracked?

I might also be pot metal?

"There is no metallurgical standard for pot metal. Common metals in pot metal include zinc, lead, copper, tin, magnesium, aluminum, iron, and cadmium. The primary advantage of pot metal is that it is quick and easy to cast. Because of its low melting temperature, it requires no sophisticated foundry equipment or specialized molds. Manufacturers sometimes use it to experiment with molds and ideas (prototypes) before casting final products in a higher quality alloy. Many components common in pot metal are susceptible to corrosion from airborne acids and other contaminants, and internal corrosion of the metal often causes decorative plating to flake off. Pot metal is not easily glued, soldered, or welded.

In the late nineteenth century, pot metal referred specifically to a copper alloy that was primarily alloyed with lead. Mixtures of 67% copper with 29% lead and 4% antimony and another one of 80% copper with 20% lead were common formulations. The primary component of pot metal is zinc, but often the caster adds other metals to the mix to strengthen the cast part, improve flow of the molten metal, or to reduce cost. With a low melting point of 786 °F, zinc is often alloyed with other metals including lead, tin, aluminum, and copper. Pot metal is generally used for parts that are not subject to high stresses or torque. Items created from pot metal include toys, furniture fittings, tool parts, electronics components, automotive parts, inexpensive jewelry and improvised weaponry."

 

[invent4hir]

I might also be pot metal?

"There is no metallurgical standard for pot metal. Common metals in pot metal include zinc, lead, copper, tin, magnesium, aluminum, iron, and cadmium. The primary advantage of pot metal is that it is quick and easy to cast. Because of its low melting temperature, it requires no sophisticated foundry equipment or specialized molds. Manufacturers sometimes use it to experiment with molds and ideas (prototypes) before casting final products in a higher quality alloy. Many components common in pot metal are susceptible to corrosion from airborne acids and other contaminants, and internal corrosion of the metal often causes decorative plating to flake off. Pot metal is not easily glued, soldered, or welded.

In the late nineteenth century, pot metal referred specifically to a copper alloy that was primarily alloyed with lead. Mixtures of 67% copper with 29% lead and 4% antimony and another one of 80% copper with 20% lead were common formulations. The primary component of pot metal is zinc, but often the caster adds other metals to the mix to strengthen the cast part, improve flow of the molten metal, or to reduce cost. With a low melting point of 786 °F, zinc is often alloyed with other metals including lead, tin, aluminum, and copper. Pot metal is generally used for parts that are not subject to high stresses or torque. Items created from pot metal include toys, furniture fittings, tool parts, electronics components, automotive parts, inexpensive jewelry and improvised weaponry."

Dave, thanks once again for the education!