Could this be the handle to an old barrel tap?

[FreeBirdTim]

I was checking out a field near an old school and dug up a brass handle that was a good 10 inches down. I think it might be for a barrel tap, but not positive. I did find a draped bust large cent in this field last year, so it could be old. Let me know what you think.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Size?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Here's a photo of it with a barrel tap I found a couple of years ago, along with a ruler.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Gas valve.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Could be, but I don't see how you could pressurize a line with this stem. It looks more like a cork shape than the straight shape of a water or gas valve stem.

 

[Madmox]

Could be, but I don't see how you could pressurize a line with this stem. It looks more like a cork shape than the straight shape of a water or gas valve stem.

Originally gas lines were less than 1/4lb psig. Barely above ambient. That could potentially be a tap for a house gas line or street gas lamp. Hell, some parts of San Francisco and Eureka still are on Low Pressure gas. There are stories in the utility company about how the old wooden pipes we used to use had totally rotted out and houses were being fed gas through an empty hollow in the dirt where the pipe used to run. It’s definitely a valve. It could also be from a barrel tap from a beer or wine barrel

 

[coinman123]

Here's a photo of it with a barrel tap I found a couple of years ago, along with a ruler.

View attachment 1606361

Either me or my dad found that same barrel tap type a few years back. He identified it as 1830's-1850's, using one of the first patents ever applied for in the U.S. It had a built in thing on top, where you could more easily shut it without creating leaks. The point of the patent was the make it close easier without using an external metal device like the thing you found.

Here is a photo of two spigots, I took it 4 years ago so it isn't my best photography work. One spigot is like yours, and the other is an older brass type. As you can see, neither of them use the thing you found, the bottom one uses a little key to open and close.



Anyways, I am not sure what you found, but it probably is valve related. Interesting old find, what ever it turns out being.