🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Not even sure how to describe this... please see photo

[Iron Buzz]

Dug at a late 1800s homesite.


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[Joecoins]

Copper or brass? That would be a very! Expensive picket fence

 

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[Joecoins]

It does kinda sorta resemble old phurba and dorje.
Weirder stuff has been found in American soil.

 

[Joecoins]

I have recently become curious about the rectangular opening found on some...
(Old wood examples)

 

[Bucket Lister]

I'm assuming from discussion so far that the rectangular hole is the only hole in the object(?)

The bottom tapered part is "square-ish"? It appears this thing was supposed to fit into/onto something else up to the base of the taper, BUT the (pointed) top doesn't look like it was supposed to be hammered down.

So I'm thinking it was mounted on/in something else, and some kind of rod or bar went cross-wise through the hole...

Could this have been part of a small scale/balance?

 

[AU Seeker]

Just a wild guess based on the square part, could it be a spindle for a door lock set/knob?,
The square part would go inside through a escutcheon and into the "bolt" and the handle/lever would be into the square hole.

 

[Iron Buzz]

Being of a nonferrous item it pretty well illuminates the finial option as well.

Good point. (pun not intended, btw)

 

[Sandog]

While watching a TV show tonight I could not help but notice a similarity in basic form as a train conductor closed a sliding door on a cargo car, flipped a hasp closed and inserted this pin into the loop. Certainly a much cruder implement, but it does suggest a function for your item, securing some type of latch. It has a large hole for the ring and chain keeper attachment, and although it's not clear in these photos, the bottom pin was also tapered. Just caught my eye. I also like the idea of it being a key, as suggested by AU Seeker. Turned horizontally, with a handle attached through the rectangular hole it's easy to picture.

 

[Jack873]

Is there a spot perpendicular to the rectangular cutout that looks like it could be used for a set screw?
The closest thing I can find is the center axis portion of a leather circle cutter.

Early bronze & steel harness leather workers circular cutter antique collectible | eBay

Because of this, they are sold AS IS, as found. WE WILL NOT!

www.ebay.com

Pardon our interruption...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Joecoins]

Is there very tiny scratched in engravings on the top part?

 

[Iron Buzz]

Is there very tiny scratched in engravings on the top part?

To both of you... no, there is not a set screw hole or any writing, unfortunately. It sure is a curious thing though, isn't it?

 

[searcher]

This reminds me of two things-

1- The inside of a water tap from a small gravity fed reservoir. Like a samovar but different.
The tapered square part would have a handle set onto it.

2- A rifle cleaning jag. It's not threaded, but not all of them were, some were just set into a dowel.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Maybe the tapered end went into a wooden handle and it was used as a tool of some sort? Sorry, that's all I have!

 

[Jack873]

Maybe the tapered end went into a wooden handle and it was used as a tool of some sort? Sorry, that's all I have!

The tapered end is the same as those auger/drill bits for those antique hand drills. I'm betting it's to be placed into into some kind of chuck, which is why I think has something to do with my previous post. Whether or not it is from an adjustable circle cutter for leather I'm not sure, but it's something similar.

Lot 12 Vintage Bit Brace Wood Boring Auger Drill Bits Irwin, Craftsman, Worth,.. | eBay

<p>Lot 11 Vintage Bit Brace Wood Boring Auger Drill Bits Irwin, Craftsman, Worth,... </p><p>The adjustable one and the 1” one the screw tip on these two broken all the rest are good. </p><p>Sold as a s no return </p>

www.ebay.com

Edit: Just realized there are T-handles that accept those bits as well.

 

[Woodsy]

The tapered end is the same as those auger/drill bits for those antique hand drills. I'm betting it's to be placed into into some kind of chuck, which is why I think has something to do with my previous post. Whether or not it is from an adjustable circle cutter for leather I'm not sure, but it's something similar.

Lot 12 Vintage Bit Brace Wood Boring Auger Drill Bits Irwin, Craftsman, Worth,.. | eBay

<p>Lot 11 Vintage Bit Brace Wood Boring Auger Drill Bits Irwin, Craftsman, Worth,... </p><p>The adjustable one and the 1” one the screw tip on these two broken all the rest are good. </p><p>Sold as a s no return </p>

www.ebay.com

Edit: Just realized there are T-handles that accept those bits as well.

I think you are correct. That might have came out of the Chuck of a lathe. Could have been something someone just spun and cut for some reason, and we will never know why.

But they did put that sloted hole in the side of it for some reason 🤔

 

[TSBS24Mem]

That's an old masenary plumb bob. I think there are people who collect them, but not sure.

I agree.

It does.

It's a plumb.

 

[Woodsy]

I agree.

It's a plumb.

Yeah, maybe that hole was for a string to go through

 

[pistol-pete]

Reminds me of a clock keym missing the handle that went through th square hole

 

[coast40]

The tapered end is the same as those auger/drill bits for those antique hand drills. I'm betting it's to be placed into into some kind of chuck, which is why I think has something to do with my previous post. Whether or not it is from an adjustable circle cutter for leather I'm not sure, but it's something similar.

Lot 12 Vintage Bit Brace Wood Boring Auger Drill Bits Irwin, Craftsman, Worth,.. | eBay

<p>Lot 11 Vintage Bit Brace Wood Boring Auger Drill Bits Irwin, Craftsman, Worth,... </p><p>The adjustable one and the 1” one the screw tip on these two broken all the rest are good. </p><p>Sold as a s no return </p>

www.ebay.com

Edit: Just realized there are T-handles that accept those bits as well.

I would determine if the squared section is identical in dimension to a brace and bit.

 

[Jack873]

I would determine if the squared section is identical in dimension to a brace and bit.

Given the size (3" long and diameter of a pencil), it may not be a a complete match in the dimensions of an actual auger bit as I don't think it was meant to be used in a brace and bit or lathe as it has a fairly ornate design. I'd say that it was a small hand tool with maybe a small t-handle attachment.

 

[Iron Buzz]

Yeah, maybe that hole was for a string to go through

A rectangular hole for string to go through? Why?