Aluminum What the Heck is This Thing?

[Ohio Jerry]

Hi Super Sleuth T-netters, I know we all dig a lot of whatzits that just need to be added to the junk pile and left alone but this piece i came across while reviewing some of my finds from this summer and thought I would take a shot at getting it identified. This is what i can tell you about it;
It is all aluminum. It is two pieces,one slid tightly into the other. The largest part is 1-1/4 inch diameter. The smallest opening is oval shaped with a lip.
It came from a cellarhole area that produced a couple of two cent pieces 1864&1865,two 1865 and one 1868 Indian Head and a souvenir spoon from the 1893 Worlds Fair. I know that doesn't necessarily date the piece but I think i can be safe to say it is from the mid to late 1800's. This site also produced what i thought was an unusual amount of harmonica reed bases,at least 6 or 7 so my first thought was that this piece looked like it could be part of a musical instrument? I doubt it since it's aluminum.
Any ideas greatly appreciated,have fun and thanks in advance for any ideas!
Jerry

 

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[bigfish31]

A wistle. Bird call.

 

[Blacksheep]

Ear horn.

(S.W.A.G. of the day)

 

[BuckleBoy]

I have no clue on this one--but it looks similar to early pewter whistles (except for the bend in the "mouthpiece").

 

[pygmy]

Is it Aluminium. Could it be pewter

 

[TimC]

Oboe mouth piece?

 

[mojjax]

Nozzle to a hand pump ?

 

[AeroMike]

I think it is the handle to a bathroom faucet.

 

[Ohio Jerry]

Thanks for all your responses,I'm liking the ear horn idea Blacksheep. It is definitely aluminum and resembles this ear piece I found on ebay of an antique ear horn..
Jerry

 

[lonesomebob]

It looks like drain pipe to me

 

[Monty]

What bob said. Monty

 

[Alnitak]

If that's aluminum, it's not as old as those pennies. Through the mid-1800's aluminum was so rare that it was worth more than its weight in gold. Even as late as 1884, aluminum was so precious (and more expensive than silver), that it was used for the apex of the Washington Monument.

My guess is that its pewter, not aluminum, or else it's not nearly that old. Besides, aluminum doesn't corrode like that; after it forms a thin oxidation layer, it is essentially impervious to corrosion. I am going with the pewter whistle guess.

Jeff

 

[DCMatt]

Could it be a type of medicine spoon?

This one is circa 1835.

DCMatt

 

[Ohio Jerry]

Happy Thanksgiving t-netters!
Thanks for all your replies,Alnitak,I appreciate the info on aluminum history. I believe your idea that this item is from a later era is correct. I'm not sure how long this site was occupied but I'm guessing til sometime past the turn of the century.
On my DFX I get a VDI reading of 51 on this piece of pewter spoon and an 81 on the mystery piece. After shining a small area of each piece I'm convinced now that the whatzit is aluminum and not an 1800's item.Again thanks for all your ideas,have a good Thanksgiving!!
Jerry

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Tiny, tiny, car muffler?

 

[NGE]

Aluminum BONG?.......nge