Think its an old insulator but not sure???

[bcboy]

Hi there, was metal detecting last weekend and found about 10 of these things about 50 feet away from the train tracks about 5 inches deep. I checked over some old photos of this area and in the old photos it shows there was a telegraph line near by, this was around 1917. Theres no manufacturers name on these. They seem to be made of copper. I think they are some sort of telegraph insulator but not sure? Any help id'ing these would be great. Thanks

 

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[Gypsy Heart]

Looks like it could be...here is a link that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about insulators.....

http://www.insulators.info/articles/early/#mtwash

 

[bigfish31]

Looks like a hose connector to me.

Bingo!

 

[doublet2a]

Yeap,, Hose fitting
Insulators wouldn't be made of copper
They would be electrifiers then


Tim

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I like the hose connector idea, also. Likely air-line end connectors for the Bendix brakes.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks like a hose would slip over the end. You have nothing for size comparison. How large is it? It looks like a quick connect twist coupling of some kind and it also seals with a gasket. Do they all have wire twisted on them? The wire may clamp the hose on.

 

[bcboy]

The diameter or the hole is 1 inch and a half and it is 5 inches long. The wire wraped around it is also copper.

 

[bcboy]

I think you are right about these being hose fittings, it makes pretty good sence. So what im thinking now is, where I found all of them was close to the train tracks and not to far away is a small creek and also in the old photos I was checking out from 1917, there was one of those large round wooden water storages that you see beside the railway tracks, like a giant wooden barrel. Mabey these copper hose fittings were linked together to a hose that extended from the creek to the water tank?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Its a kwik connect fitting for a large hose. You would push on and turn about a quarter turn to tighten. I dont know the age. They are made of heavy aluminum or magnesium now but it looks like a kwik-connect twist-lock type coupling from a water pump hose. I cant seem to find a pic.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Yes, very similar in use to a waste hose coupling but at 1-1/2 inch dia would be too small for sewage. I dont know what size steam boilers would use. Here is pic of modern twist lock sewage waste coupling. Note the wire to hold the hose part on and gasket as well.

 

[danger67]

yeah its the connector for an air hose

 

[bcboy]

Thanks alot everyone for your help. I never would of guessed what they are. All the best to you all.

 

[dozer dan]

it is a compressor air hose fitting. its technical name is a "chicago fitting"

 

[bradyboy]

seeker is dead on
its for commercial construction air compressor that would hook up to a air powered jack hammer
Brady

 

[bradyboy]

I don't think the ID so far is 100%
the issue is the size of the rubber gasket
an air hose gasket would be big time larger, width and thickness
the O sealing o ring is wrong for a air hose due to the higher pressure
might be a quick disconnect for a temporary water connection which uses a substantially lower PSI (60 80 Psi)