✅ SOLVED Copper or Brass, and that's about it...

[Dougie Webb]

Me again. Challenging the knowledge base on this rainy Saturday...

This little trinket is brass or copper. Found near an old homesite from around 1920-1940. Very light, essentially hollow, no identifiable marks. Did a google image search and google thought it was a plunger. I'm thinking prolly not. On a serious note, I was thinking maybe a small candle snuffer, but there's no handle, nor any obvious sign that there was ever one attached....

 

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[cudamark]

Sink stopper missing the seal?

 

[Tony in SC]

Looks like the top of an early solenoid type valve?

 

[Dougie Webb]

Sink stopper missing the seal?

I think a little too small for that...

 

[Dougie Webb]

Looks like the top of an early solenoid type valve?

I did some searching based on this...I see what you're saying. But if it was part of a solenoid valve, wouldn't it have to have an opening on both ends? Or am I missing something?

 

[bradyboy]

part of a thermostat?

 

[Dougie Webb]

I think you guys are on the right track with something plumbing-related. I'm going to do some more poking around based on that. Thanks!

 

[dozer dan]

don’t ask why but I’m thinking it’s an old bottle stopper minus the cork.

 

[Bruce R]

Part of an old water temperature sending unit ? Had a cover, filled with mercury and a bourbon tube going to the dash guage.

 

[DCMatt]

I think it's the business end of a vintage hand bottle capper.

 

[Dougie Webb]

View attachment 1921010
don’t ask why but I’m thinking it’s an old bottle stopper minus the cork.

I think you and DC Matt nailed it! The cork fits perfectly. How do you do that? I like to think of myself as fairly creative and resourceful, but I don't that I would have ever figured that out!

 

[Mud Hut]

Are you sure isn't a removable stem candle holder?

 

[Dougie Webb]

Are you sure isn't a removable stem candle holder?

Yeah, I don't think that's out of the question either. I'll do some looking around. Thanks-

 

[Mud Hut]

Yeah, I don't think that's out of the question either. I'll do some looking around. Thanks-

Here are two similar ones, although these have handles.

 

[ARC]

Why was this marked as solved ?

 

[Dougie Webb]

Why was this marked as solved ?

I'm about 99% sure that Dan and Matt are correct with the bottle stopper/capper ID. I researched what Mud Hut said about a removable candle holder, but its size just doesn't jive with that. At an inch wide, it's certainly wide enough for certain candles, but the recessed part just isn't deep enough to keep a candle in place (and this is coming from a former Episcopal acolyte who is all too familiar with candles falling out of candle-holders at inappropriate times). And a wine cork fits literally perfectly in there, along with evidence of there having been some kind of adhesive in that same recess.

Thanks for the help everyone! You guys rock.