Mystery object

[David Strother]

I found the object pictured and have no idea what it is. I first thought it might possibly be a hammer from a cap and ball percussion firearm, or at least part of the trigger group, but the local museum curator says no. It is brass and the large screw hole on the bottom is countersunk on one side which indicates a pivot point, and on the other side is a wear mark that indicates that. The rusty area on the offset part appears to have been some type of threaded insert. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

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[Dr. Syn]

Dave, this is the forum for asking help about problems on the site.

You need to contact one of the mods to have them move this to the "What is it" forum. You'll get a lot more help there. Good luck!

 

[David Strother]

I did not realize I was posting in the wrong section. How do I contact a mod to have them move this? I am new to site and it is not real easy to navigate, or at least I have not become real familiar with it. I thought my post had gotten lost or something.

 

[jeff of pa]

welcome David !
post is moved

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Looks like part of an old window latch or lock latch of some type.Pure guess it just reminds of that.

 

[bradyboy]

I think the first item is a ball valve handle - Brass?

 

[DCMatt]

Looks like part of an old window latch or lock latch of some type.Pure guess it just reminds of that.

Agree. Turn of the 20th C window sash lock/catch.

DCMatt

 

[Icewing]

While I don't know the specific model I think it's came off of either a gas or water shut off valve, the big hole would be the part where you would put a padlock to keep the valve from being reopened. It just looks too heavy duty for a simple window latch.

 

[nhbenz]

Welcome to TreasureNet!
I keep looking at what seems to be a broken off screw head in the middle of it, on one side. If it is a broken off screw it may have affixed something like a pivot pin that would have made this look like a throttle type linkage... And perhaps a handle was held on using the threaded clip nut thingy?
But it sure would have to have been a really clean break?

 

[David Strother]

It is brass, and on the side with what looks like a screw head there is a wear mark where it apparently rubbed on something as it pivoted. There is not really a screw head there, just an indentation. It was buried at approx 7 inches. The rusted area looks like it once had something threaded through a clip.

 

[David Strother]

There is not really a screw head there, just an indentation that gives the appearance of a screw head, almost like it was impacted by something.

 

[David Strother]

yes, it is brass, but with it being flat on both sides, and a narrow wear line on one side, like something closed over it, I am starting to wonder if the people that think it might be a sliding latch of some type may be correct. But I am open to further thought on the matter, I have never seen an item like this before.

 

[David Strother]

To all those that responded, thank you for your hints and suggestions. The mystery has been solved. It is one half of a vintage heavy double hung window sash locking system, called a latch and catch sash lock. The part I found is the latch, which pivots into a pocket in the catch. The rusted away part was a threaded part for a locking nut. The time period for the latch is approximately 1895- 1905. Thanks again to those who responded, but the sash lock folks nailed it.