What Is it? (WII001)

[Erik in NJ]

Gonna start numbering my What Is It finds so I can reference them. So this will be #1

Any way, this thing was deep and was a junky signal. I thought maybe it was a belt plate after I fractured it worse than it was on recovery. It says "PATENTED" and "MADE IN USA" and looks like a year and city/state perhaps that now I cannot make out after I dropped it in ACV for a bit to get the ingrained dirt off. It's about 3" in diameter and has a ridge around one side. Center has a mounting sleeve that goes through item and a hole at 90 degrees for a pin to hold it in place. Also looks like it has a pointer. There is a circle that appears to be a mark from a casting mold not sure if that makes it not that old. It's kind of crumbly and not sure what the base metal is though it appears to have some lead in it.

Here are some iPhone pics. Will try to scan it if better pics needed.

Thanks for any input and approx age.

 

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[DIAZ]

a paint can lid rotted

 

[DIAZ]

or a frying pan badly rotting

 

[Erik in NJ]

It is neither of those. It's only about 3" in diameter and has a mounting hole in the center.

 

[capt-zero]

I saw the mount in the center; flywheel or something like that?

 

[Erik in NJ]

I saw the mount in the center; flywheel or something like that?

Looks like it had a scalloped edge. Last night when I was explaining it to Grant Hansen I thought perhaps it was a frequency dial from an old radio--buy didn't want to bias anyone here.

 

[DIAZ]

It is neither of those. It's only about 3" in diameter and has a mounting hole in the center.

just noticed that, you dont think it could be an old sun dial do you?

 

[DIAZ]

maybe it is an old sun dial thats my guess!!.....

 

[RELICDUDE07]

think its a old pocket watch

 

[DCMatt]

The first thing that came to my mind was the cover off a carburator choke. The one pictured is not as big as the relic but carbs have come in all shapes and sizes over the years.



DCMatt

 

[Erik in NJ]

The first thing that came to my mind was the cover off a carburator choke. The one pictured is not as big as the relic but carbs have come in all shapes and sizes over the years.

DCMatt

Hi Matt - It could be something like this. I could have sworn I saw MICH. on it at one point. When I dug it I thought it might have been something more interesting and was annoyed that I broke it on recovery, but it doesn't seem to be a terribly interesting item. It does have what appears to have a pointer of sorts on it.

RelicDude07 - Thanks for your post--It doesn't seem like it's from a pocket watch as far as I can tell as the metal is probably too soft.

Diaz - no, it's not a sundial.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Looks like part of a Fly Fishing Reel...

SS

 

[Archeodeb]

It is obviously meant to spin around on something, and -- interpretation #1 the point sticking out in the 9 o'clock position (first picture) looks like it is meant to engage something else. Therefore a cog/gear of some sort. Interpretation #2 says it is stationary -- held in place by that same projecting point -- to something else, while the center hole serves as the socket for a shaft upon which something else spins. Either way it is one part of something bigger, more complex and undoubtedly machine-like.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Thanks SS & Deb. It attaches to a very thin shaft and was pinned in place, that along with the pointer to me made it seem like a good candidate for a frequency dial to a radio. The circle in the casting--is that caused by an injection mold? If so that should give us a lower bound on dates if someone knows when these were first put into production. I had thought it was more interesting when dug -- possible belt plate, but in it's fractured state I'm glad it's not. I dug a crotal bell there and part of a button so there is more there. Now we just need some warmer weather!

 

[Paleopilot]

Might be part of a Compass, many different varieties were made, it fits with the center mount and general size anyway.

 

[cudamark]

Looks like the lid for an old style paint sprayer......you know, the kind used in a body shop.

 

[Tnmountains]

Sorry about that ! Maybe half of a small steel retractable measuring tape?

 

[Roger Mn.]

I'll guess bicycle reflector. It held the plastic reflector. I don't think they were always made of aluminum.