A Little Help Please With My Metal Thing

[Dirt Dective]

I found this item at the site of an old barn that I was told dates to the late 1700's. It is metal and weighs 2.9 oz. It measures 2 1/4 inches tall, 1 1/4 inches diameter at the top, 1 1/4 inches diameter at what I believe is the bottom (which also has 6 evenly space holes that are about 1/16 inch in diameter) and the tapered hole is 2 inches deep. The metal is unknown, but may be copper or brass. At first I thought it might be a candle holder of some sort, but the holes in the base confused me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Jerry

 

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[mick56]

Piston to an automotive master cylinder, number 4.

 

[SkyPirate]

Piston to an automotive master cylinder, number 4.

The piston does not look tapered though

 

[trikikiwi]

I'm voting for mick56's ID.

I found a pic of them and there seems to be a great variety of shapes.

http://www.indiamart.com/indautomototurnings/hydraulic-pneumatic-equipment.html

Mike

 

[trikikiwi]

Those all look lathe turned.. The OPs whatsit appears to be cast or drop forged and painted.

You are correct, the examples I show are modern - made in India.
The find is obviously older.
I don't think it's painted, it looks like a nice copper patina with some rubber 'O' Ring residue at one end.

Mike

 

[whynot]

small pulley?
-whynot

 

[bradyboy]

I as well like Micks thinking
the small holes allow for fluid to pass thru the cylinder
Brady