✅ SOLVED Another oddball brass item

[cudamark]

Another beach find that has me puzzled as to it's purpose. It's a little over 2 inches in diameter. There are real fine threads both inside and outside the center hub with that ring with the teeth on it, is threaded onto those outer threads. The only other threaded hole is the one on that little bump sticking out of the outer rim. There are 14 other holes through that outer section. but, none look to be threaded. Four of the big ones are countersunk. There are 3 patent pending dates stamped into it.....Apr 21, 1908, Aug 31, 1909, and Jan 18, 1910. It also says Pat. in USA. All ideas welcome!

 

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[pepperj]

Prop shaft housing?
The packing would go in and around shaft, then tightened up.

 

[cudamark]

I've dealt with packing nuts on all sorts of equipment, but, never one like this. Seems to flimsy for one. I've never seen a packing nut with that many holes going through it either. The threads and nut on the outside of the center hub don't make sense to me for sealing either. Inside, I can understand, but, outside?

 

[Older The Better]

Just guessing but looks to me like there’s a hole on the side that you would set a screw into and use pressure to hold your piece to something it sat over. In my experience as an electrician I see something similar with grounding bushings… so could it be some kind of deal meant to fit over a pipe and maybe act as a reducer of sorts? Also looks like it may have a lock ring too, which is usually used to secure a connector to a box.

 

[DCMatt]

Possibly a camera shutter.

 

[rebelminer]

I am on the same thought as Cudamark. This is some kind of mechanical seal for a shaft and it's an adjustable seal like pump packing seals. I have also run across similar seals like this one but not one exactly like it. There would be a lock washer under that nut that would be bent up to hold the nut still because they are not completely tightened. Same as a bearing lock....Heck, it prbably is a bearing housing and no packing at all , just grease.

 

[Blackfoot58]

The part with the “teeth” appears to be a castellated retaining ring/nut. I’ve installed hundreds of them, but I have no idea about the whole item. Does the toothed ring turn and come off separately?

 

[tamrock]

I'm thinking in the same line as DCM. It does appear to be the type of precision made brass part you'd see in a early 20th c. camera shutter mechanism.

 

[glass half fool]

Maybe a part to a brass oil lantern or electric light

 

[cudamark]

The part with the “teeth” appears to be a castellated retaining ring/nut. I’ve installed hundreds of them, but I have no idea about the whole item. Does the toothed ring turn and come off separately?

Yes, it threads off.

 

[CanSlawKing]

Maybe the base for an old bulkhead light?

 

[Blackfoot58]

The castellated nut is generally to retain position or to prevent accidental loosening of the nut. This is often used to ensure that wheel assemblies do not get loose on industrial vehicles: the rear “steer wheels” on a forklift are usually locked down to the axle assy in such a way. If you look at your pic, that I zoomed and reposted, you’ll see a groove above one tooth. This is normally for tightening, by inserting a small punch and tapping it with a hammer to achieve fine alignment. This is usually locked into place with a cotter pin. I can’t see a hole for the pin. There may be a piece missing from yours or I just can see it due to photo angles.

 

[Red-Coat]

I think Matt and Tamrock have it right.

I cross-referenced the three patent dates to see if I could find either a common inventor/assignee, or some commonality of usage application. What came up were three camera shutter patents:

- Roller Blind Shutter (885,236) granted to W.F. Folmer on 21st April 1908

- Photographic shutter (932,381) granted to W.F. Folmer on 31st August 1909

- Photographic Shutter (946,657) granted to G.L. Coursen on 18th January 1910.

The first two patents were assigned to the Eastman Kodak Company and the third one to the Wollensak Optical Company. Here’s an image from that later patent which shows some kind of ring housing with similarities to the posted item:

 

[CanSlawKing]

I think Matt and Tamrock have it right.

I cross-referenced the three patent dates to see if I could find either a common inventor/assignee, or some commonality of usage application. What came up were three camera shutter patents:

- Roller Blind Shutter (885,236) granted to W.F. Folmer on 21st April 1908

- Photographic shutter (932,381) granted to W.F. Folmer on 31st August 1909

- Photographic Shutter (946,657) granted to G.L. Coursen on 18th January 1910.

The first two patents were assigned to the Eastman Kodak Company and the third one to the Wollensak Optical Company. Here’s an image from that later patent which shows some kind of ring housing with similarities to the posted item:

View attachment 2076216

Nice work, Red-Coat! Did you write a script to cross-reference those dates or did you just do it "by hand"?

 

[Red-Coat]

Nice work, Red-Coat! Did you write a script to cross-reference those dates or did you just do it "by hand"?

Thanks. I did it the hard way from a couple of patent databases.

 

[GlowingArtist]

I go with a modern water sprinkler part

 

[ticndig]

I go with a modern water sprinkler part

There are 3 patent pending dates stamped into it.....Apr 21, 1908, Aug 31, 1909, and Jan 18, 1910. It also says Pat. in USA. All ideas welcome

doesn't seem too modern to me , care to share more detail?