Cast iron farmer’s relic – a flapper of some sort?

[Packrat1947]

I live next to an overgrown orchard. The apple trees are long gone and nature is reclaiming it.

I found this about 6” down. It is a flapper of some sort, and has a heavy counter-weight. The hinge pins are distinctly triangular in cross-section – as to eliminate friction.

I would like to say it is an exhaust/muffler flapper, but that cannot be correct. The little tip looks like it was to used with a spring. I’m familiar with some old-time corn planters and grain-drills, but don’t remember anything like this.

As an aside:
If anyone needs nice ruled scales, here is a good place to get them. I use these on every ebay picture.

http://shop.armorforensics.com/mm5/...e=Redwop&Product_Code=6-3815&Category_Code=88

Thanks for any ideas.
Packrat1947

 

[oldcoon]

Something makes me want to say its a flapper too,
a flapper off an old Johnny Putt Putt's exhaust.
Anybody remember those? The old John Deere 2 cycle tractor engines.
Used to hear them out in the fields with their distinctive putt putt ..... putt putt...... putt putt
Sounds like something they might have used in an orchard to
mow and disk.
Then again I could be totally wrong and
it might be nothing more than an old
thigamabob off an old Reo truck
or corn sheller.​