"1875" house site find

[ResurrectedVirginia]

Not sure what it is or what it was used for. Got any ideas? It says " PAT SEP. 1875 " Its light weight, thin, hollow, the piece in the center swings.

 

[hbeaton]

While my eyes are fighting sleep im gonna guess that this is a vintage small toy, necklace or jewelry piece with a chime/noise making apparatus with a bell shape and what looks like a little clapper at the bottom that makes the middle section move and the noise it made would come out of the three slots. The four bent "teeth" indicate it may have been part of a locket or something else with a hollow section in the middle.

I'm researched out for night

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It appears to be half of a latch from something like a diary.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Nope. Pocket books.

Patent US174302 - Improvement in locks for pocket-books - Google Patents

 

[tennessee digger]

Good job Charlie! I think that you are right.

 

[BosnMate]

They had locks on photo albums as well. I have a family album with a more simple lock, but the pages are heavy duty compared to now days. They were able to fit tintypes and cabinet cards in the pages, but in this case, I think Charlie nailed it.

 

[ResurrectedVirginia]

Thanks everyone. I didn't consider either ideas. I really like the pocket book or diary lock idea.