✅ SOLVED Artifact found near Dr. John Hole's water wheel building

[invent4hir]

I stopped by the local history museum and the Curator hands me this artifact and note then asked if I know what it is. According to the note it was found near Dr. John Hole's water wheel building - which would date pre-1815 (that doesn't mean the artifact is that old). Not knowing how much has chipped away - I guessed it might be part of a clock movement or linkage given the appearance of the 2 ends. I added that I'd post it on TNet to see what IDs others have. Any ideas?

FYI: Dr. Hole served in the Revolutionary War as the personal physician and surgeon for Brigadier General Richard Montgomery.

 

[tamrock]

It looks like a hammer, but I'm not sure what exactly it is?

 

[invent4hir]

It looks like a hammer, but I'm not sure what exactly it is?

Yes, it kinda does. Thanks for looking.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Looks like the remains of a ball peen hammer. I've seen all metal ones referred to machinist ball peen hammers on some sites.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

At only 4" in length, that would have to be a pretty small hammer.
I'd like to see a pic of the top of the piece, where the thin portion meets the larger metal portion.

I want to see how the two parts are connected... some electrolysis to the piece wouldn't hurt either.
Dave

 

[ARC]

It looks like a hammer, but I'm not sure what exactly it is?

Thats because it is. :P

 

[GDub62]

Screwdriver/hammer combo

 

[hollARDog]

Looks !ike the small hammers we all made in Highschool Metal Shop I 🤘

 

[invent4hir]

At only 4" in length, that would have to be a pretty small hammer.
I'd like to see a pic of the top of the piece, where the thin portion meets the larger metal portion.

I want to see how the two parts are connected... some electrolysis to the piece wouldn't hurt either.
Dave

Dave, 4" is its current length - who knows how much of the "handle" has chipped away. The soonest I'll be able to post a pic of the top is next Tuesday when the museum re-opens. Regarding electrolysis - I thought the same - but there is no way the staff would agree to that. They did agree to spraying some White Rain on it though.

 

[invent4hir]

All, the possibility of it being a hammer is interesting. At the present time the big end only measures about 1" in length. So if that is nearly its original size - that would be pretty small. Maybe a toy hammer. Another angle is maybe it was used by a watchmaker or jeweler. My dad repaired watches in the late 1940s so I hoped to find a small hammer among his tools - but no dice. Today I'll be visiting a clock repair shop - so will show the pictures to the repairman there to see if he knows about it.

A Deidre Little still lives at the address appearing in the note. I'll attempt to borrow the artifact from the Curator next Tuesday and visit Mrs. Little to find out about how large is was when found, where the majority of the metal chipped away, the location where it was found, and what if anything was found nearby. Will post what I learn.

 

[invent4hir]

All, I'm marking this as SOLVED. In addition to your help I spoke to the clock repairman yesterday - who agreed it was most likely some sort of hammer. Will inform the Curator. Thanks to all again! Happy holidays...