✅ SOLVED Unusual Brass Piece...Maybe RR/ Trolley Related?

[Silvermonkey]

Good Morning All, and a premature Happy New Year! I found this piece yesterday. It really has me stumped. Its about 7 inches long, and appears to be made of brass. On one side it reads " Anderson....Boston USA". The other side is stamped with " 1831" then a circled " A " and " 00". The rounded top piece is threaded on the inside, and the bottom is slotted.



I did some preliminary internet research, but came up empty. Given the location where it was found, I'm wondering if it may be rail road related?
Any guesses would be much appreciated!

 

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[Red-Coat]

Curious item.

I don’t know what it is, but I checked Stimpson’s 1831 and 1832 directories for Boston. The only likely ‘Anderson’ listed was William Anderson who seemingly owned a company trading as “Bradford, Clinkard & Co.” (but then why did it not carry the company name?) They’re described as a “rigging” company, which I believe relates to shipping rather than rigging as in machine installation etc.

Might the slot be some kind guide for ropes or cables under tension?

 

[HuntinDog]

Window or floor "Squiggy" missing it's handle and rubber blade.

 

[searcher]

Reminds me of a tool rest for a lathe.

 

[Silvermonkey]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I kind'a like searcher's idea.

 

[DCMatt]

It has something to do with overhead lines for electric rail. You can see one in the image below. The image is from an undated ad in "The Street Railway Journal". I believe the building is the Johns-Manville Co in New York.

 

[releventchair]

It has something to do with overhead lines for electric rail. You can see one in the image below. The image is from an undated ad in "The Street Railway Journal". I believe the building is the Johns-Manville Co in New York.

Great I.D.!

Like a connector bar that rides in a protected shoe..
Here's a modern version of the type I worked with on overhead cranes..

 

[Red-Coat]

It has something to do with overhead lines for electric rail. You can see one in the image below. The image is from an undated ad in "The Street Railway Journal". I believe the building is the Johns-Manville Co in New York.

Sure looks like it, Matt. If that's what it is, then the '1831' on the item can't be a manufacturing date. First use of overhead power lines for railroads in the US was in 1889 in Richmond, Virginia. So, it might be a part number not a date and would also explain why there seems to be no mention of a relevant 'Anderson' in the Boston Directories for 1831/1832.

I wonder if it might have been made by the Albert and J.M. Anderson Manufacturing Company, founded in Boston in 1877. They made all manner of items for the electric light and power industry. From 1890 onwards they made a number of innovations for overhead electric railway and trolley-bus operations.

 

[DCMatt]

Trolly wire feed-in ear. Not sure how it was used, but that's what it is called.

 

[DCMatt]

Electric railway journal . FIGS. 5 AND 6—ILLUSTRATING THEINSULATION OF THE TWO TYPESOF FEED-IN EARS July 14, 1917] ELECTRIC RAILWAY JOURNAL 65 to take a wire 0.48 in. in diameter, or whatever size trolley wire the ear is to be used with. By this means the worn portion of the trolley wire is protected in the side groove of the ear and does not receive any further wear. The clinching of the ear at each side of this worn portion gives mechanical and electrical fastening on the unworn trolley wire at either side of the old ear location, and thus greatly strengthens and prolongs.​

 

[Silvermonkey]

Electric railway journal . FIGS. 5 AND 6—ILLUSTRATING THEINSULATION OF THE TWO TYPESOF FEED-IN EARS July 14, 1917] ELECTRIC RAILWAY JOURNAL 65 to take a wire 0.48 in. in diameter, or whatever size trolley wire the ear is to be used with. By this means the worn portion of the trolley wire is protected in the side groove of the ear and does not receive any further wear. The clinching of the ear at each side of this worn portion gives mechanical and electrical fastening on the unworn trolley wire at either side of the old ear location, and thus greatly strengthens and prolongs.​

Wow!!!!!!! You nailed it DCMatt. Thank you so much for taking the time to figure out the function of this piece!
I am consistently impressed with the wealth of knowledge held by the members of this site. Cheers, and Happy New Year!

 

[searcher]

Cool. Nice to know what it is.