What could this be?

[Lost Signal]

Found this at a late 18th early 19th century site. It's solid brass, with a small through-hole. The flared end has been smooshed flat and broken off, but it looks like it might have flared out into a conical shape - not sure.

 

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[Esotericvalue]

Bell clapper maybe?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I'm thinking it's the drop portion from a colonial drawer pull.

Dave

 

[Lost Signal]

I'm thinking it's the drop portion from a colonial drawer pull.

Dave

Thank, Dave! That could be it. It does seem to be designed to grip. Probably falls into the category of "not enough information."

 

[CRUSADER]

Pretty sure its a late 18th C toy cannon that blow up.

 

[Lost Signal]

Pretty sure its a late 18th C toy cannon that blow up.

Now, that would be interesting! The hole that looks like it might be for a fuse, goes all of the way through the object, so I don't know if that would exclude that possibility or not.

I will investigate. Thanks!

 

[CRUSADER]

Now, that would be interesting! The hole that looks like it might be for a fuse, goes all of the way through the object, so I don't know if that would exclude that possibility or not.

I will investigate. Thanks!

toycannons

 

[mbcuce]

Gotta love a toy that could blow up!

 

[A2coins]

I would go with the cannon makes it a cooler find

 

[Lost Signal]

Okay, I've studied the object more closely, and there is not a cavity within the "turned" portion. In other words, the small through-hole could not function as a touch hole because it does not connect to the flared part.

I loved the idea of a cannon, but I don't think that could be it.

It might be that there's just not enough there to identify it.

Thanks to everyone, who has studied the photos and made suggestions.

 

[mick56]

I was thinking the end to a whistle.

 

[Lost Signal]

I was thinking the end to a whistle.

mick56, I never would have thought of this. The whistle is the closest thing I've seen to my fragment. And, I looked at some others and they had similar holes for hanging them.

Thanks!

 

[ARC]

I have seen this before... or similar... but ?

 

[creskol]

I have seen this before... or similar... but ?

It reminds me of the old fireplace tools, similar to the ones shown below. Look carefully, and you can see the holes in about the same location.

 

[Lost Signal]

It reminds me of the old fireplace tools, similar to the ones shown below. Look carefully, and you can see the holes in about the same location.

Thanks for the input creskol!

The thing I found seems too small to be one of these, but in terms of style, they're on target. The swollen spherical portions are probably hollow, and that would correspond the flared, broken part of mine. So, some kind of tool like these, but smaller.

I spent a lot of time looking at different sewing and spinning tools, but found nothing very close. The whistle still seems plausible to me.

 

[CRUSADER]

I'm 100% sure its a toy cannon.