Metal detecting question please answer!!!!

[treasurehunter101]

Hey guys I was metal detecting my yard today since the snow melted away and I found lots of linoln memorials and a 1944 wheat penny. And nails and all the junk you guys know the drill well anyway I also came across this wierd thing I don't have any clue what it is can you help me please?? Thanks ps my house was built in the 1890's.

 

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[MuckyBottles]

Looks like an old key, possibly skeleton key.

 

[streakert]

Looks like a clock key, or maybe to an old lock,

 

[releventchair]

When posting pictures it helps to tell size by adding a ruler or tape measure opened or a common coin to judge scale.
It does resemble a clock key, don,t get caught with it kid or dad will get mad. That,s a funny.

 

[treasurehunter101]

Looks like an old key, possibly skeleton key.

Do you know what years the skeleton key was made in?

 

[treasurehunter101]

Looks like a clock key, or maybe to an old lock,

Is a clock key like a skeleton key?

 

[treasurehunter101]

When posting pictures it helps to tell size by adding a ruler or tape measure opened or a common coin to judge scale. It does resemble a clock key, don,t get caught with it kid or dad will get mad. That,s a funny.

What's a clock key?

 

[MuckyBottles]

No, a skeleton key is full of bones....lol j/k.. if you can put something up to it to give it scale it would be helpful..

 

[treasurehunter101]

No, a skeleton key is full of bones....lol j/k.. if you can put something up to it to give it scale it would be helpful..

Like this?

 

[Terry Soloman]

An old clock winder

 

[treasurehunter101]

An old clock winder

What's a clock winder

 

[Terry Soloman]

A key that was used to wind clocks..

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Treasurehunter101, as other folks have mentioned, we need exact measurement of your key to identify it with certainty. Meanwhile, I'll answer your questions, and add some info.

A "clock key" is for winding a clock. Until the mid-1900s, many "table clocks" were wound with a key. My grandmother owned one which was made in the 1930s.

You key is one version of "Skeleton keys." They have short prongs on one end of a metal shaft (which sometimes resembled finger-bones on the end of a skinny arm, hence the name), with a ring on the other end. They were used for all kinds of locks, from door-locks to padlocks to clocks, etc. (and even clock-winding). They've been in existence for MANY centuries, with very little change in their shape, so they can very difficult to time-date. I should mention, some are still being manufactured today, as replacements for lost antique-lock keys.

Your lock is short-bodied, so it fit a lock which wasn't very thick, such as a padlock, trunk-lock, cabinet-lock, or desk-drawer lock. Also, yours has a thick shaft instead of a thin one. That indicates (but doesn't necessarily "prove") it was for a padlock, which sometimes required a lot of force to unlock, so the key tended to be "sturdier." Door locks usually had a thinner and longer shaft.

 

[treasurehunter101]

Treasurehunter101, as other folks have mentioned, we need exact measurement of your key to identify it with certainty. meanwhile, I'll answer your questions, and add some info. A "clock key" is for winding the clock. Until the mid-1900s, many "table clocks" were wound with a key. My grandmother owned one which was made in the 1930s. You key is one version of "Skeleton keys." They have prongs on one end of a metal shaft, with a ring on the other end. They were used for all kinds of locks, from door-locks to padlocks to clocks, etc. (and even clock-winding). They've been in existence for MANY centuries, with very little change in their shape, so they can very difficult to time-date. I should mention, some are still being manufactured today, as replacements for lost antique-lock keys. Your lock is short-bodied, so it fit a lock which wasn't very thick, such as a padlock or trunk-lock or cabinet-lock. Also, yours has a thick shaft instead of a thin one. That indicates (but doesn't necessarily "prove") it was for a padlock, which sometimes required a lot of force to unlock, so the key tended to be "sturdier." Door locks usually had a thinner and longer shaft.

Okay well the measurement up to down is 1 1/2 inches on a tape measurer

 

[treasurehunter101]

Treasurehunter101, as other folks have mentioned, we need exact measurement of your key to identify it with certainty. meanwhile, I'll answer your questions, and add some info. A "clock key" is for winding the clock. Until the mid-1900s, many "table clocks" were wound with a key. My grandmother owned one which was made in the 1930s. You key is one version of "Skeleton keys." They have prongs on one end of a metal shaft, with a ring on the other end. They were used for all kinds of locks, from door-locks to padlocks to clocks, etc. (and even clock-winding). They've been in existence for MANY centuries, with very little change in their shape, so they can very difficult to time-date. I should mention, some are still being manufactured today, as replacements for lost antique-lock keys. Your lock is short-bodied, so it fit a lock which wasn't very thick, such as a padlock or trunk-lock or cabinet-lock. Also, yours has a thick shaft instead of a thin one. That indicates (but doesn't necessarily "prove") it was for a padlock, which sometimes required a lot of force to unlock, so the key tended to be "sturdier." Door locks usually had a thinner and longer shaft.

Okay I measured it with a tape measurer up to down and it was 1 1/2 inches long. Does that indicate anything? Thanks

 

[treasurehunter101]

Okay I measured it with a tape measurer up to down and it was 1 1/2 inches long. Does that indicate anything?

 

[streakert]

Is a clock key like a skeleton key?

yes a mantle clock wound with a key,

 

[treasurehunter101]

yes a mantle clock wound with a key,

I have no idea. I thought it was a skeleton key but it's really small it's only 1 1/2 inches

 

[capsmith]

Looks just like a trunk key to me.

 

[treasurehunter101]

Ok guys I need one answer haha