🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Selector knob of some sort?

[invent4hir]

Hi all, dug this near a home built in SW Ohio prior to 1828 that burned down in 1944. Originally thought it was a clock hand, but after cleaning some of the dirt off, thought maybe a selector knob. Help w/ ID and age is appreciated.

 

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[DCMatt]

Hi all, dug this near a home built in SW Ohio prior to 1828 that burned down in 1944. Originally thought it was a clock hand, but after cleaning some of the dirt off, thought maybe a selector knob. Help w/ ID and age is appreciated.

Is that front and back of the same item? Brass? May we see a pic from the edge?

 

[DCMatt]

Is that front and back of the same item? Brass? May we see a pic from the edge?

Ah. Looking at it on the computer now instead of the phone. I see that is a pic of the edge. Oops...

 

[invent4hir]

DCMatt, thanks for chiming in. The front and back look like the first picture. The second picture is from the side. Because it wouldn't stand up I held it to show the channel on the right side of the picture. Will post a few more angles shortly. I swear I've seen something like this before - but darn if I can remember...

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe the pointer from a small balance scale.

 

[vhs07]

Looks like it's off an old degree angle finder.
Here's one example of a hoof gauge:

 

[invent4hir]

DCMatt, great minds think alike. Last night I considered a pointer as well - Googled - but again no close matches. Most indicator/pointers have a hole about where the rivet is in this one. The channel on the right of the second picture makes me think a cable or rod went through it. So when you rotated the artifact CW/CCW it would activate or adjust something (i.e. switch, rheostat). Alternatively, it could be some sort of visual indicator (i.e. temperature). Will continue to ponder its purpose. Happy New Year!

 

[invent4hir]

Looks like it's off an old degree angle finder.
Here's one example of a hoof gauge:
View attachment 2000100

vhs07, thanks for the tip - I'll look into it! Happy 2022.