This is a weird one...Can anybody Identify this???

[theGOLD]

Okay, if anybody can figure out what this is, I will be impressed. I have posted some pictures of it here. The crustation is similar to items Ive seen before on some late 18th-early 19th century items around here. I honestly cant figure out if it is modern and spawned some sort of freak accelerated crustation, or if it is actually an old item. From handling it and removing the crustation, I do think it is probably is old. I still cant figure out what the hell it is though. Unfortuneately there really isnt much else to go on. It was found in the same area that a large early 18th century spanish anchor was found. Nothing else to really suggest they are connected. It appears to be made of cast iron. In any case, enjoy and have at it :

-theGOLD

[ScubaDude]

Looks like some kind of trawl winch linkage or part of a winch brake, or an old manual transmission linkage. I do not know My guess is its not related to your anchor.

[Salvor6]

It's a busted connecting rod from a Detroit Deisel engine. That's why the archaeologists don't want you amateurs fooling with their historic wrecks!

[Darren in NC]

That's why the archaeologists don't want you amateurs fooling with their historic wrecks!

[gollum]

Looks like a heavy duty four wheel drive shift lever.

Merry Christmas,

Mike

[privateer]

does not look like 1800-late 1900 maybe ?

[stevemc]

Sure does like a gear shifter, the connecting rod thing would slide a gear in and out. I would also say, it is not 1800s.

[GorskiDvr]

Take it to the local marine diesel parts counter & show the guy the part # in that picture , see if he has a new one .................
Good parts counter guys will be able to tell the brand by the part number sequence & probably be able to tell you what it is . If the stars & planets are alighned just right he will be able to put that PN in his little computer/catalog & pull a new/used one out of his warehouse to show you.

[jeff k]

Could be part of a hand pump?

[GorskiDvr]

173940 Does that sound right for the # ?

[stevemc]

To me the last number is a 1. Do you think you have a match?

[GorskiDvr]

:P No not yet . different pieces from those pics he posted look like alot of thing sput together ..... Like pic 2 there is what apears to be a connecting rod minus the wrist pin . The rest of the little assembly does not look like part of the rotating engine assembly.
Still looking ....... but not today ...........

[stevemc]

The thing that looks like a connecting rod, is a gear shifter. It slides the gears in and out of alignment with another one. The rounded out part rides on the shaft and the part that looks like it should have the bolts for a connecting rod, have rounded things that push the gear along the shaft.

[stevemc]

It also looks like there is yellow paint on it. It may be a gear shift for a Caterpiller, but what I dont know. Maybe a PTO for a winch on shrimp boat or cargo boat. Could be a transmission shifter linkage, but it looks pretty big, but it could be. Thegold, see if that yellow paint will flake off. That should at least tell it was a Caterpiller part. Then maybe with the numbers and pictures a Caterpiller dealers parts room microfisch could tell what it is.

[stevemc]

Yes, I know. But he was looking for treasure and found something. Looks like a shifter and a shift fork for very heavy transmission. Probably hooked up to a Caterpiller engine. Kind of like those iron flakes over on the Treasure Coast, from those iron shipwrecks, and they look like encrusted cobs. They get your heart racing, but once you clean them up you realize its nothing. Same here. Comes with experience, to recognize period proper parts , I used to be a marine diesel mechanic, and have handled those. Plus been on many wrecks, that you go over for a while till you figure its nothing good. Now lets find some treasure!

[Salvor6]

There is a catagory on Treasure Net called "What is it." Maybe this thread should be moved there.

[theGOLD]

Sorry about that, I didnt see that one. I will make sure to put these kinds of threads into that other cat. There is no paint at all on it. There is some discoloration/rust from the short period that it was exposed after the encrustation was removed. Again, sorry about that Cornelius.

Hope everybody had a verry merry christmas...

Thanks

-theGOLD

[wreckdiver1715]

Is it not also a good exercise in research trying to identify unknown objects recovered from the oceans bottom, irregardless if it is modern junk or an artifact from days long gone by? Since he did not know what it was, it could have very well been part of an old sidewheel steamer from the civil war. Nope! looks to modern, I'll just toss it out with the trash, and not even ask the question because someone may think it a stupid question.
Let's not be so hasty, as to dis someone for asking the question. This forum is the perfect place to ask the question, as it was found underwater searching for a shipwreck.

Tom

[GorskiDvr]

Wow , That pretty much sums up the way I felt .............. but I'm a guest here so I tend to stay quiet.
I could'nt have said it better Wreckdiver1715 .................

[Bigcypresshunter]

I agree. Never be afraid to ask a question. Same thing happened to me when I tried posting a question here in the shipweck section. Even though someone may contribute much to this forum, they do not OWN the shipwreck section. Wreckdiver is the moderator. If he says its OK to ask questions, then its OK.