Brass whatzit??

[Kyboy]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum but have visited it from time to time. There are some very knowledgeable folks here. I'm curious about a find I have. It's brass and it was found on our farm. I have dug lot's of farm machinery parts, civil war items, and lots of US Army items from 1903 when they trained here. Any ideas on this?

 

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[diggummup]

Sort of looks like a fuse to me but I could be way off.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

First... thank you for including a penny in the photos, to give us ID-helpers a useful size-reference for the unknown object.

There are several ID possibilities. The only one I'm 100% certain about is that it's not a civil war era artillery (nor grenade) fuze. It does closely resemble one, but there were no civil war era metal fuzes with a solid, flat face that had two spanner-wrench holes.

It could be a late-1800s-to-early-1900s fuze... but the "chipping" around the wrench-holes makes me lean away from that possibility. The chipping damage indicates inferior-quality metal, which the US Ordnance Department has always been very careful to avoid. Nonetheless, I had to say "lean away from" because I can't be absolutely 100% certain that it isn't an artillery fuze from the late-1800s-to-early-1900s. You'll need to show it to somebody who has more knowledge of post-civil-war-era artillery fuzes than I do. For example, you might have success by contacting the authour of the article at: An Introduction To Collecting Artillery Shells And Shell Casings - International Ammunition Association
He gives a link to his email address at the top of the article.

With all of that having been said... due to the wrench-hole damage, I'm suspecting the object is a valve-body from some kind of machinery. If the guy at cartridgecollectors.org is able to identify it for you with certainty, please let me know.

 

[Broken knee]

It looks like an electrical sending unit or temp? HH I'll look for a pic
Broken Knee

 

[Kyboy]

Thanks for the prompt replies! It's nice to know help is there when ya need it. I'm always digging up mysteries on our farm. It's seen "white" men since the 1770's when it was wrestled away from the Indians. It's along the Ohio river and people have always been drawn to this area.

 

[bede2691]

Is the tip magnetic? Looks similar to an oil pan plug but can't imagine it is without a bolt head on it.

 

[Kyboy]

Nope...I checked that. Did they make hydraulic line plugs like this? My hunch is it blocked fluids some how. But I'd really like it to be an artillery relic.

 

[Crispin]

It looks like a valve. Being threaded, it may have been screwed in my hand and then tightened by tool afterwards. The chipping at those holes could be from tightening. I could also go with a fuse with similiar explanation. I'm just spitballing here and I'm no expert.

 

[dieselram94]

I think Crispin is pretty close. Looks like a spray nozzle to me. We have made some very similar looking devices for thawing frozen culverts in the winter using steam. Hope this helps.

It looks like a valve. Being threaded, it may have been screwed in my hand and then tightened by tool afterwards. The chipping at those holes could be from tightening. I could also go with a fuse with similiar explanation. I'm just spitballing here and I'm no expert.

 

[Kyboy]

It can't be a nozzle because it is solid. There's no way fluids could pass thru. Thanks for the suggestion tho.... I went out last night and hunted in the dark til about 1am! Getting read to go again. Last night, my friend Steve and I found 1899 Barber quarter and an 1902 dime. I also found a Chinese coin and Kissblocker midget lipstick and a bunch of other stuff and more whatzits. I'll post some pics of our finds this evening.

 

[frijoles]

Its a Base fuze from a 6 pounder or 3 pounder shell. I'd need more photos of markings on base though to tell you more.

 

[Mud Hut]

Its a Base fuze from a 6 pounder or 3 pounder shell. I'd need more photos of markings on base though to tell you more.

What era are you thinking?