Steel End or Tip

[taropatch]

About 16 inches long, this rusted piece of steel makes me think it was part of a sculpture but could it be part of old machinery? The tentacle-like surface and "fish fin" certainly throws me for a loop. And is that tip threaded? The hollow hole goes down about halfway (I cleaned out mud) but that is not to say that it went down further because possibly a piece inside may have cracked off. Or that "threaded" section is corroded and inside? Any ideas?

Added Note: Found on the slope of a ravine in former sugar cane land of the Big Isle of Hawaii. Pre-1960 equipment in that area would run the gamut of large trucks, cranes that grab cane and certainly dozers. The railroad was coastal and did not run through that area.

 

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[ARC]

That is ...
The weirdest metal object I have ever seen.

Sheesh almost deserves a banner for being so weird. :P

 

[tamrock]

Definitely is a strange anomaly. Could you shed some light on where you found it? A field, old dwelling, old site of ritual executions or a city park.

 

[bigfoot1]

I would have to guess its a replaceable ripper tip from a dozer,tractor or pull behind piece.the rings are field added to increase wear life.

 

[cudamark]

That was my initial thought too, but, it just doesn't look quite right for a ripper blade. Looks cast iron rather than forged steel, but, maybe that's just because of the years of corrosion. An odd looking duck for sure!

 

[taropatch]

Definitely is a strange anomaly. Could you shed some light on where you found it? A field, old dwelling, old site of ritual executions or a city park.

Added Note: Found on the slope of a ravine in former sugar cane land of the Big Isle of Hawaii. Pre-1960 equipment in that area would run the gamut of large trucks, cranes that grab cane and certainly dozers. The railroad was coastal and did not run through that area.

 

[C TROOPER]

I would explore sugar cane harvesting equipment... it looks like it might have been part of a machine that pulled the cane into itself for grinding?? The fish scale or raised rings to me indicate that the part would be turning and the rings (scales) help to grab and move the cane inside the harvesting machine, the same could be said for the paddle ... just a guess... I have seen some interesting ideas for feeder housing to move grain into early threshing machines here in the US...

Just imagine a comercial wood chipper !!!

 

[wildpig]

Are the rings weld beads? They may have used hard surfacing welding rod to make it more wear resistant.

 

[taropatch]

Are the rings weld beads? They may have used hard surfacing welding rod to make it more wear resistant.

Yes the rings appear to be weld beads. Reply #4 is similar to yours -- the rings would be for prolonged wear. I've shown the picture to a couple of antique shop owners including one guy who used to do welding and neither have seen anything like it.

 

[pepperj]

If one can think of it being longer and with the threaded end I would venture a guess a paddle device for a large mixer?