What kind of tool is this?

[tnt-hunter]

Found this on campus. There was an old farm here before they built the school. I have found civil war items on this field so the farm had some age to it.

The tool has a brass end like fireplace tools but the shape of the tool is not like any fireplace tool I have ever seen. The handle has a bend in it and the end flares out. It could be broken off. It is hard to tell with all the rust on it. So exactly what is it and how old might it be?

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Thanks in advance for any info you might have.

 

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[firemanphob]

Reminds me of a gear shift lever but don't know about the flattened end.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

My first thought was a 19thc fireplace tool of some kind as well.
With that decorative finial, it was definitely meant to be seen.

Dave

 

[ARC]

My first thought was a 19thc fireplace tool of some kind as well.
With that decorative finial, it was definitely meant to be seen.

Dave

Agreed.

 

[Tony in SC]

I too think it may be a shift lever. I would say the brass end was the shifter mechanism and the other end had a handle/knob.

Reminds me of a gear shift lever but don't know about the flattened end.

 

[ticndig]

I think it's a shoe horn

 

[Georgivs]

Shoe horn would make sense, also kinda looks like the flattened part might have been joined to a spoon or ladle. The thinner bowl part might have degraded much faster or even broken off before being discarded.

 

[tnt-hunter]

Shoe horn would make sense, also kinda looks like the flattened part might have been joined to a spoon or ladle. The thinner bowl part might have degraded much faster or even broken off before being discarded.

In line with the thinner part degrading, does it look like it could be a fireplace ash shovel? The shoehorn idea has merit, but all the shoehorns I have seen are straight. The bend has me confused. Thanks to all for the input. Please keep thinking and swingin.

 

[Bruce R]

Looks like the remnants of an andiron.

 

[Bruce R]

 

[tnt-hunter]

View attachment 1817780

Bruce, thanks for the input. I don’t think it’s part of an andiron though. The handle is bent or offset and all the andirons I have ever seen are straight on the vertical portion. The brass end does look a lot like the top of an andiron, but the rod would have had to go through hollow brass parts. The hollow brass parts would not have held up to the heat of the fires and the logs would roll out, defeating the purpose of the andirons.

Thanks again and keep swingin.