Anyone have an idea of type and possible date .. and steps to preserve this beauty
Agree with the kedge Anchor description.
Looks like the shaft is about gone to ferris oxcside.. If you wish to attempt preserve it. It must be run with electrostatic reduction in a large enough tank to preserve it. Make a tank out of two by twelves PT and line it with heavy plastic or a landscape pool liner. Wrap anchor with heavy stainless steel wire preferably touching bare metal here and there. Cover with fresh water and add some caustic soda to it to create an electrolyte. Do this in a well ventilated area. Get another chunk of stainless steel and a 6 volt low amp battery charger. Hook up the positive and negative wires one end to the wire on the cannon the other end on the chunk of stainless steel. I think positive to the chunk of stainless steel and the negative to the wire wrapped around the anchor. Make sure the cathode and anode ar not touching then plug the battery charger in and turn it on. If you put enough caustic soda in eventually small bubles should start appearing and rising from the artifact.
Now wait about a year or two occasionally brushing off the anchor and then changing the solution.
When you think its done. Brush "Ospho" all over it and cover it in heavy black epoxy.
I don't suggest you attempt to use it as that shaft really looks punky...