Some sort of weight, maybe?

[The Aluminum Monster]

I suspect this will be easily solvable and I am just not putting the correct words into the Google machine.

Found while metal detecting today. Appears to be a large eye screw going through the center, independently, of the non-metal ball. I can't quite tell what the ball part is made of. It isn't metal, or rubber, or cement. Clay? There are no markings on it anywhere. I can take more pictures or run tests on it if need be as it is right beside me here.

I am guessing it is a weight (can't find my scale, I would guess it to be about a pound) of some kind but I've not seen one like this in my travels.

Thoughts?

Thanks for looking and for any help.

-Jay

 

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[aa battery]

i have one like that found by the tracks. it was used on a mail bag on a post that the train picked up.

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

i have one like that found by the tracks. it was used on a mail bag on a post that the train picked up.

Huh. Interesting. Any idea what it would be called so I can research it? Thanks for the lead!

 

[sutphin]

LOOKS LIKE THE SAME ITEM MY WIFE SWUNG AT ME AFTER I COME HOME WIH A METAL DETECTOR. I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU HAVE BUT NEAT ANYWAY.

 

[bigfoot1]

if found near water I would guess homemade duck decoy weight,assuming it sinks

 

[Mackaydon]

Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with mail pick ups by train.
But in the event it does, you may find it by researching phrases like:
Mail cranes, mail catcher arms, mail hook; and railroad post office.
Don.....

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

It does sink. It doesn't match any of the vintage duck weights I saw online but that doesn't mean anything. It very well could be homemade.

I looked up several railway mail sites and saw several components to the mail catching system but couldn't find a weight specifically.

 

[Ant]

Ball Weight:
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrTcXgGFodVvDgADAKInIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBsZ29xY3ZzBHNlYwNzZWFyY2gEc2xrA2J1dHRvbg--;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTc4NARfcgMyBGJjawNmNzRsbmpkYWdsMDFwJTI2YiUzRDMlMjZzJTNEaDcEZnIDBGdwcmlkA1BFdXY3LmVNUS5HRU1YX1M4dE9WeUEEbXRlc3RpZANudWxsBG5fc3VnZwMwBG9yaWdpbgNpbWFnZXMuc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAMxOQRxdWVyeQN2aW50YWdlIGJhbGwgd2VpZ2h0BHRfc3RtcAMxNDM0OTE2Mzg3BHZ0ZXN0aWQDbnVsbA--?gprid=PEuv7.eMQ.GEMX_S8tOVyA&pvid=u58pHTIwNi7zkrebVQqAOQ9HNjYuMgAAAAB_1Ggk&p=vintage+ball+weight&fr=&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com&ei=UTF-8&n=60&x=wrt

 

[lockster99]

how about clacker from a large bell?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Gate weight?

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

The ball weights that Ant posted seem similar. I'll have to research it more after I wake up. Stupid work. Thank you all for your input. I'll check back in if amy questions arise.

 

[CRUSADER]

Any conclusions? What were Ball Weights used for? Clocks? Windows? Steelyard Weights?

 

[OWK]

Pretty sure it is used in conjunction with a rope to make a door/gate closer.

Google "ball weight gate closer"

 

[ARC]

Any conclusions? What were Ball Weights used for? Clocks? Windows? Steelyard Weights?

They were used as a form of testicular torture :P