✅ SOLVED Small copper disc dispenser? Civil war?

[parsonwalker]

My dad was a relic hunter long before me. Going through his collection (Most stuff found where he lived in Cold Harbor) I ran across this. It is a thin brass tube containing a bunch of tiny copper discs. The tube contains a wooden rod which pushes the discs OUT. Attached to the wooden rod is a wooden portrusion, seemingly used to push the rod which pushes the discs out. He had this displayed with his relics. Doubt it was dug, due to the condition of the many copper discs inside - but the brass tube and the wood looks very old, with patina. WEIRD COINCIDENCE: What looks to be a collection of the discs was posted yesterday in the forum. See post marked "Interesting find".

 

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[vpnavy]

Sure is different - can't wait for someone to ID it parsonwalker!

 

[parsonwalker]

I really hope someone can! As my dad used to say, "I don't know what it is, but it sure is a NICE one!"

 

[cw0909]

neat little find,1st thing i thought of was something to do with electric, so maybe an advanced model of the 1st battery


voltaic pile was the first electrical battery that could continuously provide an electrical current to a circuit. It was invented by Alessandro Volta, who published his experiments in 1800.
Voltaic pile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[NOLA_Ken]

My first impression is that the copper disks are not original to the piece, I'd expect them the have some noticeable patina if they were. It looks like the bit on the side is there to slide whatever that rod is inside it. My question is what is that rod made of? Is it graphite? Can you write on a piece of paper with it?

I'm thinking it looks a lot like a pencil holder to me.

 

[mical66]

really looks like a custom made item to me, i hope some one can ID this because now i want to know,,lol

 

[bigfoot1]

I posted in the original thread the possibility they are ammo primers?.......for reloading?....

 

[parsonwalker]

The rod inside is crude wood, just like the projecting little crude wood protrusion. It certainly does look like a one off, Nola Ken. The discs I have are not primers, just thin copper discs. No explosive. hammer blows do nothing! (Ha!)

Agree that the patina and age of tube and wood don't match the apparent pristine condition of the copper discs. But why would my dad load these worthless discs IN there, and what are the odds of finding a bunch of perfectly shaped and sized discs, and him thinking, "Hmmmm- think I'll load these into my old whatzit!" Think I'll call a medium and hold a seance. If he knows what it is, bet he's having a good time with this!

 

[bigfoot1]

...hmmmmm...this type?

 

[bigfoot1]

found this....for enameling,texturing,etc....jewelry makers........

 

[ohiowhiteguy]

i'm thinking it a proto type for the first pez dispencer?
could be?
owg.

 

[Breezie]

I think your Dad put those copper disk in the holder for the same reason my Dad put quarters in the old glass Alka Seltzer containers ... ..because they fit! Those disk look newer than the container, and they may be the remnants of a 'punch' for some type of craft project. Breezie

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Because you've said that your dad was a longtime civil war relic-digger in Virginia, I think perhaps he got the idea for this gadget from a civil war era straight-line "Percussion-Capper." That was a very similar looking brass device which held a line of percussion caps. Using it, the soldier could very quickly "cap" his rifle, musket, or pistol with -- instead of having to fumble around in his cap-box to fish them out one-at-a-time when loading the firearm. A version of it is still made today, for use with percussion firearms. But the capper contained a spring, whereas your dad's gadget doesn't. The only photo I could find showing a straight-line one unfortunately shows it inside a plastic casing. Here it is.

Yes, folks, I know Parsonwalker's dad's gadget seems to have little copper discs in it, not percussion caps. I'm just talking about where he may have gotten the idea for the gadget from.

 

[parsonwalker]

Lot's of cool theorizing, and Cannonball guy has sure found a similar device. Cool ideas and detective work by many, with the obvious exception of OhioWhiteGuy (sigh). Bigfoot1 - nice work. I can't think of anything else these would be . . .

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Actually, Ohiowhiteguy wasn't all that far off-track... the Pez dispenser does work on a similar principle. I know because I had one when I was a kid.

 

[cheese]

Gas checks possibly? To put behind lead bullets.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I think CannonballGuy might be on to something, I though of a capper too for a minute when I first looked at it. It does look to be about the right size for pistol caps.

 

[Smeagol]

Going to take a guess at this. It may be a reloading tool someone made to re-prime Farrington cartridge case. DeWitt Farrington patented his priming system in 1872 and it was used by the U.S. Cartirdge Company. The system used a flat copper disc that was pressed into the primer pocket of the cartridge case to cover the fulminate priming compound. The size of the disc in your picture looks like it should be about the right size for this application. If I do this right you should be able to see a cut-away picture of a Farrington primed cartirdge case at this link.

THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

 

[parsonwalker]

Dang, that's GOOD. (I mean the sleuthing...)

 

[fireford10]

my guess is that it is a holder for caps for powder firearm. the wood piece was probly just put in there because the spring rusted away and maybe your dad put it in there just to fill the void. He prolly had someone punch out the discs so he could display it as it might have looked with some of the caps in it. This could be a piece that a soldier made or adapted for his needs. here are some pics of more modern ones.