Brass item

[dand]

Found this brass item 7-16 in a Union Civil War camp in Va. All brass, 3 inches long, 2 inch arm. Has anyone found or seen something like this...?? Possibly a hinge for a writing desk..?

Thanks......Dan

 

[dand]

Additional picture....

 

[creskol]

With the two holes on the heavier arm being threaded, along with the gear mechanism (part of which is rusted away but the attachment is still obvious)
my guess is that it is a ratchet-style lid support, perhaps from a drop front desk or field desk. Very interesting find!

 

[creskol]

Just for curiosity sakes, do the gears go all the way around?

 

[dirty digger dude]

I can imagine a portable writing desk being of high value out in the feild. I can certainly see how it would be useful to an officer or a quartermaster.

 

[DirtDigler]

I agree with Creskol. It looks like a racheting hinge. A pawl would drop between each tooth allowing the user to alter the angle of the lid or top to suit their need. It looks like there is quite a bit of hand tooling, hammering and filing on the piece. Could be late 18th/early 19th century. I'd check with an antique dealer to see if they might recognize the hinge style. Nice find!