🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Brass latch mechanism?

[VaGent]

Dug this brass whats-it yesterday in a colonial era roadbed in Central Virginia. It was almost completely encrusted in iron crud, photos are after some cleaning. It is about the size of a golf ball, and appear to have clamped onto something iron and then had a hinged arm to another piece. I cannot tell if the threads are machine or lathe made. Any suggestions? Maybe part of a mainspring vise, possibly a carriage window latch?

BTW, I do know not to over-clean anything saveable. This was so crudded up that yes, I did hit it in a sand blast booth. I would never do that to anything I thought was more than junk.

 

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[DCMatt]

Seems like something was hinged to the smaller part. The larger part clamped to iron. The wing nut may be to adjust or stop the range of movement. Hard to judge but it doesn't seem very heavy duty. Maybe from a carriage lamp or a buggy top?

 

[Tony in SC]

Clamp for a saw guide or plane?