Very strange item - I don't even have a guess. Ideas?

[brianc053]

Hi everyone. I found this thing yesterday, and I don't even have a guess as to what it is.

I originally thought it was a watering can nozzle (it's definitely not). Then I thought it was possibly an incense burner (no way to open it). But as I cleaned it I noticed the hole in the side/bottom that's in line with the two non-iron silvery "things" (rivets, decorations?), and maybe most importantly the item is not completely hollow. In between the upper and lower halves there's a layer of metal, kind of like the beef in a hamburger. When I tap on it through the grill with a thin object the sound is like a microphone membrane, if that makes sense.
Any ideas?

- Brian

 

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[creskol]

It reminds me of the base to the old receipt spikes you use to see in stores, motels, and other business establishments.

 

[No gold in NY]

creskol, you mean a bill collector? Could very well be.

 

[brianc053]

It reminds me of the base to the old receipt spikes you use to see in stores, motels, and other business establishments.

Wow that's an interesting idea. I looked at pictures of those and I see the resemblance, but all of those are flat on the bottom - and this item is rounded. It would roll around on a countertop.
I certainly appreciate the idea though!
- Brian

 

[creskol]

could be rounded or bulged from freezing.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Open up an old telephone and that looks like the microphone or some type of speaker, the size eliminates it from the phone but it could still be a microphone or speaker from something.

 

[ticndig]

it looks like a floor drain grate to me

 

[islamoradamark]

I was thinking turn it upside down sink drain

 

[Bruce R]

Its an old motorcycle horn

 

[Bruce R]

 

[1637]

burner from a stove?
brad

 

[cudamark]

Horn or claxon (sp?)

 

[old digger]

Receipt spike as creskol suggested.

 

[ToddsPoint]

View attachment 1864430

I agree with Bruce. A vintage motorcycle pancake horn. Here is one from a 1915 Indian motorcycle. Gary

 

[Shakakka]

Could be a fancy vent cover. Was it found near an old house?

 

[brianc053]

Thank you so much everyone for all the input!
I appreciate the idea of the receipt spike, but I think that this would roll around on a counter too much to be that - even though the design is similar.

The "membrane" / layer that is sandwiched (pancaked) between the top half and the bottom half has me thinking this is probably a pancake horn, as has been suggested. Although there probably weren't that many motorcycle styles in the 1920's era, so I'm surprised I can't find this exact design somewhere in a picture.

The suggestions of something from a phone and the word "pancake" led me to search pancake microphone, which led me to "carbon microphone" and I found this example of a carbon microphone from the 1920's. The "Little Wonder Carbon Microphone" is a real thing manufactured back then. I think there is a chance that it's something like this (though not the actual Little Wonder), if it's not a pancake horn.

Again, thanks everyone - I love this detective work!

 

[\NerdyRockGirl/]

Reminds me of an old brass lamp top. I replaced old exterior lamps on my old house & the tops popped off. I saved it for a time thinking I'd reuse it as something else because it was decorative. Unfortunately I no longer have a clue where it is and have since moved.