Cannonballguy,kuger,nhbenz, help

[Bryanhashemi]

Hey guys, I don't mean to single out anyone for this is an open forum for anyone's ideas. But I posted this relic not to long ago with not one response. That's why I'm re-posting this pic for the experts to look at in case you missed it. Any possible ideas of what it could be would be so nice. Dug it up at a civil war camp site that has produced pre,during,and post CW relics. The case itself is 4 inches long and about 1.5 inches wide. Any pics that i could take which could help more? All ideas are welcome from everyone. By the way it was closed when I dug it and I opened up and that gear was inside. Thanks

 

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[HutSiteDigger]

Do you see any part of this that would be from hand cranking it?

 

[Broken knee]

It's a wick adjuster either for a lamp or a sad iron heater. HH
Bk

 

[watercolor]

It "looks" like a wick feeder for a kerosene camp stove burner of some type. . . just a thought.

 

[Bryanhashemi]

I couldn't see anything that would be hand cranked. Wick adjuster, feeder. Nice thoughts! Any pics for that?

 

[nhbenz]

When you mention that it was closed when you found it, do you mean that there was a seperate plate over the gear, or that the existing plate (in the picture) was wrapped around it more than it is currently (which doesn't look likely)? And, before you opened it up, were the teeth protruding through the plate that otherwise covered the gear? (which seems like the only way the gear could have done anything).
Or, more concisely - what did the part look like that was covering the gear?

 

[Bryanhashemi]

The case covered the gears fully. It seemed to house the gearing. When opened, the gear could be taken out. Like a case to reading glasses. I opened the case and it broke. The top photo would have gone over the bottom one as to in case the gear.

 

[nhbenz]

Oh, whoops, thanks. I thought it was the same piece flipped over, as the rusted areas are similar as to if it were flipped.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

those gears resemble some clock gears I have seen. Don't think it was part of a clock but very similar gears.

 

[kuger]

No idea

 

[nhbenz]

I think Broken Knee and Watercolor had it right... For now my belief is that the plates had gap between them (perhaps not when found, but originally) and that a wick went through for a set-up similar to this; Antique Wick-Type Cast-Iron Heater » Bureau of Trade
This is presuming that the shaft rusted off where exposed... Is there a hole where that could be the situation? Otherwise, there's no way for the gear to do anything.

 

[daroofa]

Oh, whoops, thanks. I thought it was the same piece flipped over, as the rusted areas are similar as to if it were flipped.

I'm with you....I would have bet money those were the same piece.

 

[Broken knee]

I think Broken Knee and Watercolor had it right... For now my belief is that the plates had gap between them (perhaps not when found, but originally) and that a wick went through for a set-up similar to this; Antique Wick-Type Cast-Iron Heater » Bureau of Trade
This is presuming that the shaft rusted off where exposed... Is there a hole where that could be the situation? Otherwise, there's no way for the gear to do anything.

I'm not signing up, but I can see the piece in the image in back, yup that's it. HH
BK

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I'm with Broken Knee. It's one sode of a wick tractor feed for a large burner - sad iron or incubator heater.

 

[rocky raccoon]

old trench lighter

 

[Bryanhashemi]

Thanks a lot guys. At least I have a good idea of what it could be! And thanks to everyone who replied