Cast iron mystery

[CSA2K]

Found at a site which has produced CW relics to early 20th junk
Cast iron, initials appear to be RW

 

[Gunrunner61]

Maybe some type of gate valve wrench.....

 

[creskol]

Are the ends/tips broken?

 

[CSA2K]

No they are not. The pic is at a poor angle but as the object lies the ends are pointed towards the ceiling

 

[bluehunter1973]

There is an R.W. Winfeild company that made wrought iron gates maybe its a latch like Gunnrunner mentioned

 

[CSA2K]

R.W. Winfield would certainly fit the time period. I'm finding a lot of broken cast iron pieces from pots / stoves.. even the entire leg from a stove.. so my thinking was in that direction

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It may be a piece from a cow tie and the chain broke off. Also known as trace chain or chain tie. Thats my guess unfortunately Im not at my computer and I dont have access to my extensive files to post a pic.

You may even search here to find examples of "cow tie"

 

[mikusek]

Does it have holes in the tabs? Perhaps an old cheese slicer.....?

 

[CSA2K]

Ha.. no holes but it does look like one. A slight channel runs between the tabs along the "top" on both sides

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

There are different styles and sizes but they all have the same general shape.. I think it could be off an old cow tie/chain tie.

 

[CSA2K]

Right I see it. What were they used for?

 

[creskol]

There are different styles and sizes but they all have the same general shape.. I think it could be off an old cow tie/chain tie.

I have never seen a toggle like this one, and I think it is way too big for that application. Assuming that a AA battery is roughly 2 inches long, by scale, this piece would have to be close to 8 inches long.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Right I see it. What were they used for?

Im not sure but they are listed in my old books. (1890-1910) and I remember seeing them posted here before. I would imagine they could be used for many things besides cows and I remember someone saying on an older thread they may have been used to pull cannons but these are not my words.

Creskol says it too big so I may be wrong. Its the best guess I have at this time.
He will have to explain their use. I think it slips in the O ring and makes a loop but I dont really know.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

There are different styles and sizes but they all have the same general shape.. I think it could be off an old cow tie/chain tie.

I have never seen a toggle like this one, and I think it is way too big for that application. Assuming that a AA battery is roughly 2 inches long, by scale, this piece would have to be close to 8 inches long.

You may be right. I dont know. My book shows some very large "close rings" but I guess it would be a large chain for such a large toggle.

 

[creskol]

Having pondered this thing in my sleep, I can't help but thinking that it is half of some kind of clamp, perhaps similar in nature to a bench clamp like was used for sharpening saw blades.

 

[DCMatt]

A handle for an old squeegee?

DCMatt

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

A handle for an old squeegee?

DCMatt

Its large enough to be a handle and has a hole for hanging but would cast iron be the preferred metal?

 

[creskol]

Almost looks like a battery hold-down clamp of some sort, but again, cast iron would seem a bid odd for that application.

 

[CSA2K]

Unreal as it may sound.. I was out detecting today.. and actually FOUND a cow tie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Unreal as it may sound.. I was out detecting today.. and actually FOUND a cow tie

That looks like it according to my book.