US bronze item , needs ID help

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Hello.
My Friend found this today, trying figure out age and use?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Oldrvrrat57]

Part from a pad lock

 

[Wild Colonial Boy]

Thank you

just found this

.It's a warded brass padlock made around 100-110 years ago. Most aren't marked, but Franklin M. Arnall's The Padlock Collector identifies the maker as the E. T. Fraim Lock Co. of Lancaster, PA. Although it's sometimes listed as a lock from a U.S. mail bag, and on eBay some sellers have also called it a military lock, in fact it was a retail item sold in local hardware stores and mail order catalogs— not an official government lock. "US" was just the model name. When RFD mail delivery began, many people bought these "US" locks to use on rural mailboxes. There were also locks with "MAIL," "RR" (for Rural Route), and other official-looking names that were sold for the same purpose.