What is this? I need help!

VaMike

VaMike

Jr. Member
May 23, 2015
24
46
Port Republic, Virginia
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Treasure Commander TC2X, Nokta Pinpointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
My buddy found this in the Shenandoah River in Port Republic, VA. He has been to the local University for help to identify this and they had no idea. If anyone can help me it would be greatly appreciated. We think it is brass/copper according to the people at the University.
 

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Machkin said:
The item appears to sitting on a Suncast 22-Gallon Small Deck Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044V3UFS/ref=sbl_dpx_B07FCRQ79Q_0?th=1
The dimensions of the deck box are: Outside Dimensions: 22.5″ wide x 22.75″ high x 17.5″ deep
View attachment 1786595
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Machkin, good catch. I originally was looking for the type of box it was on, but incorrectly thought a hose reel box. Even at 22+" wide the artifact is pretty big. Still scratching my head as to what it is.:dontknow:
 

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invent4hir said:
What a fascinating discovery! If there is no makers mark on the underside here are a few thoughts:

The artifact appears big, thick and heavy. Until a size reference is provided, I scaled the artifact based on the floor plank assumed to be 6”. That makes the artifact about 32” as shown in the first picture. Looking close at the holes along the periphery, they appear to be beveled (for recessed screws) and the metal appears thick. Combining the size and thickness, it is probably fairly heavy, probably too much for a car or semi hood.

As Dave pointed out it has an Art Deco feel. The lines making “V” shapes look uneven to me. I realize the lines on the outsider V are meant to diverge, but even those on the inside seem a bit wavy — like they were hand engraved. Considering this, perhaps this artifact was part of a bigger statue or art sculpture. I’d send pictures to some art museums or a state historical office to see if they can ID.

Given that it was found in the Shenandoah River I also pondered a ship figurehead, but those are mainly of a person-like or animal figure and project away from the front of the ship. This artifact is designed to hug whatever it was attached to. Plus I’m not sure the river at Port Republic, VA. is navigable by a large ship.

Good luck!
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So Port Republic back in the 1800s was an actual port and barges went up and down the Shenandoah River and actually near where this was found is where the Shenandoah River was formed from the North and South River combining thank you for the help and I will try to get pictures from the back side
 

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bowwinkles said:
ornament from the top front of a boat or canoe.
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My first thought as well... for a canoe it could have been stern plate as well.

In fact... this item would have been part of... believe it or not... "the deck"... So this would be a "deck plate".

Yes I know... not much of a "deck" ... but it is what it is.
 

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Wrap ur brains around this thought. On boats you have a metal plate assembly that has a short pipe that runs down through the bow cover of a boat and is affixed to this cover. Then you have two rounded top screens at the rear of this assembly that have holes in the top which are threaded and match the counter sunk holes in the top cover as shown. You then also have a threaded center stud sticking up by the pipe that runs down thru the bow cover which is much like a car carburetor air filter stud. This assembly (shown at the beginning of this thread) then fits down onto that plate and a polished cap nut holds this assembly to that plate. The last thing is that two beveled screws are then ran down through the matching counter sank holes to hold the cover tight against the breather screens that are part of the deck plate.
similar to this-https://www.fisheriessupply.com/vents-fans-hatches-and-windows/vents
 

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AARC said:
Nola... this would be a good guess and I can see it... problem is... the markings are not "stamped" IMO.
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I wouldn't expect them to be on a large casting, I would expect the part to have come out of the mold, been cleaned up and polished, gone to another worker for the decoration, and then off to plating.
 

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I'm not feeling the car grill theory. I don't have my own theory but grill/hood cover doesn't jibe in my little pea brain.
 

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Can anyone find a front grille from an antique car that has a split at the seam, from the edges. If this was a car grill, in the upper areas where the corners were, there would be a solid casting all the way down. I could see it being a custom piece for a show car, but then grille doesn’t stop at the corners. Plus if you’ve ever seen or dealt with a lot of those plated chrome grilles, they are usually thin pieces of cheap ferrous metal that tends to rust away after years on a vehicle or the plating tends to come off.
 

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I wanna know what the holdup on the back pics is. heh
 

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Here's the whole boat.

1948-Ventnor-Runabout-pix-2x900.jpg

1948 Ventnor Runabout
 

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DCMatt said:
Late 40's Ventnor Runabout boat. Nose cap.

View attachment 1787312
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I’d say you got it. I would imagine on this style of the OP’s his landline where the loop is at that you throw to shore to tie off is closer to the front, but still feasible. Whoever’s boat it was definitely had an ornate one judging by the hand made grooves for the piece. All the bolt holes line up, and the only thing different is the hole where I would assume they had a loop attached for docking purposes
 

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Here is a better comparison of the detail:

ventnor boat nose cap detail.JPG

No question it is a match.
 

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I knew it was boat related.

I could swear was a canoe... was fixated. heh
 

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