Round Hill, Va find but what is it?

[WVARelics]

This was found back in the early 90's by my father in law in Round Hill, Va somewhere near the CW lookout towers... that's the story he told me anyway. I don't doubt his story because of the bucket fulls of CW bullets, box plates, several cannon balls, hotchkiss shells, buttons, hooks, guns and other CW relics he has dug up but I'm just not sure about the history of the lookout towers or what this thing is. Just about every weekend we go through some of the things he has dug up since the 70's and he always knows exactly where each piece came from and what it is. This past Sunday he brought this item out and said this was the only thing he has never figured out what it was or even if it was CW. Not certain what type of material it is and I hope you can use my hand as a measurement of its size. There are 3 holes evenly spaced around the rim. Any help Id'ing this would be appreciated.

 

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[stefen]

Possibly made for a scale which was hung by 3 chains or rods...

 

[vhs07]

The three holes remind me of a lighting fixture. What about a center cap on a ceiling fan?
The one you take off to install a light. Wikipedia say electric celing fans were invented in 1882.
Just a guess.

 

[Breezie]

When I was a toddler (20 years ago LOL) back in the 50s, my parent bought me a wooden rocking chair. Underneath the seat was a music box that played whenever the chair was rocked. The metal covering over the music box looked almost identical to your find. It had 3 slots, evenly spaced that fit onto 3 male slots that held the covering in place. I still have the chair, and when it was refinished 20+ years ago, the music box was removed because it was broken. I still have the music box and cover 'somewhere' packed away. If I can find the music box without tearing the entire storage shed apart, I'll post a pic. Breezie

 

[nhbenz]

Rear cap/cover to an electric motor? Every application of that type of fastening is electrical in nature. The reason I veer toward a motor is that the protrusion of the middle would allow space for the back end of the rotor and it's related bracket and bearing.

 

[WVARelics]

That was my guess nhbenz but it doesn't feel right. If this was a motor cover and the round area in the middle was a bearing seat then the 3 little holes don't make sense because they would snap off the screw the first turn of the motor. Thanks for all of the replys but still not sure we hit it yet.

 

[nhbenz]

No, I just mean the dust cover for the rear bearing of the motor, which is stationary.

 

[Subterranean]

Lens cap off of a Confederate telescope from the Signal Corps, (watchtower)...now that's a stretch...

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Probably way off, but what is the diameter? Could it be the lid from a canister shot projectile?

 

[phs3194]

It looks like it could be the end cap for a round storage container. Possibly for maps or blue prints.

 

[DocBeav]

Agree with NOLA Ken and psh3194. Looks like an end cap of some sort to either a piece of ordnance or cylindrical tube. Maps, mortar rounds (more modern ones anyway), canister shot. Something along those lines.

 

[DocBeav]

Something like this (top left side) but I'm sure much older than the one pictured here.

 

[WVARelics]

No, I just mean the dust cover for the rear bearing of the motor, which is stationary.

I see what you are saying, was thinking more in the lines of a starter motor cover that actually supports the armature.

 

[WVARelics]

Probably way off, but what is the diameter? Could it be the lid from a canister shot projectile?

Couldnt get my hands on it this week but looks to be between 4-5 inches

 

[WVARelics]

You probably need to investigate the other writing on the bottom. It looks like it says either "TRENT" or "TRUST" with a date 1853. But I am not sure. It could have been something someone used to keep his coffee over a flame to keep it hot or warm. He could pull on one chain to pour the coffee back into his cup. Can't really say?

I dont see any writing on it except the magic marker "R. HILL" that the owner wrote on it.

 

[WVARelics]

View attachment 703632

Something like this (top left side) but I'm sure much older than the one pictured here.

That sure looks close!

 

[mfitzs70]

R.Hill looks to be written on so it is something that someone personally owned. Do the holes look like they were threaded? Do the holes look like they were added after manufacture?

 

[skeeterd]

I assumed that "R. Hill" was written on it by the finder, who found it at Round Hill, Va. Or was it written on it before it was found?

 

[WVARelics]

R.Hill looks to be written on so it is something that someone personally owned. Do the holes look like they were threaded? Do the holes look like they were added after manufacture?

My father in law wrote on it when he found it. The unthreaded holes look to be original and was found the way it is in the picture with 2 of them being cracked.