✅ SOLVED Found at a Gold Mining Ghost Town

[oldmxrat]

It's made of silver and had a small iron ring on it when I found it, like it was maybe worn or attached to something else. The little bead slides to make the ends come together.
Any ideas?

 

[Gasser]

It's made of silver and had a small iron ring on it when I found it, like it was maybe worn or attached to something else. The little bead slides to make the ends come together.
Any ideas?

View attachment 2209260View attachment 2209261

Ok, I'll give it shot!
Looks to me like it could be a universal clock winding key(?). The slider would allow the device to "clamp" onto various sizes of clock winding shafts.
Possibly a type of lock key, lock release would probably be recessed making it somewhat secure.

 

[ticndig]

roach clip.

 

[Mudflap]

Maybe 1/2 of an old key ring. They used to have a ring that squeezes the 2 pieces together that allows the other half to disconnect.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Roach clip

 

[ToddsPoint]

It looks like a jewelers clamp.

 

[UnderMiner]

The people saying it's for winding watches are adorable.

 

[bc5391]

anyone who has smoked knows a roach clip

 

[tamrock]

IDK really. Im on the fence on this one because of what Toddspoints suggested. I would think a roach clip would be best suited with flat tips instead of the rounded out one this object has. To me that looks like it has an intended purpose. Maybe to clamp the shaft-pinion of a small timepiece gear to carefully insert it into the tiny jeweled bearing.

 

[Sandog]

I agree that it looks like he ring would slide down to lock onto something small, hard to hold by hand, and has a square , not octagonal or other shape, shaft or projection. It could then be held on or between fingers for fine work. Or something else.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

magnifying glass handle

ETA: poor wording. This is the ring that holds the lens. The collar holds it together then you slip the legs into the handle, then slide the collar to tighten the handle on. Antique. I have one somewhere.

 

[Chilli]

A kind of split pin to keep something closed. Like keeping a latch from opening. Maybe.

 

[oldmxrat]

anyone who has smoked knows a roach clip

I have, and it's not.

 

[RussM]

Ok, I'll give it shot!
Looks to me like it could be a universal clock winding key(?). The slider would allow the device to "clamp" onto various sizes of clock winding shafts.
Possibly a type of lock key, lock release would probably be recessed making it somewhat secure.

Hate to say it, but roachclip was my first thought too.

 

[oldmxrat]

Took it to a local antique shop and showed it to the 85 year old proprietor who immediately recognized it as an adjustable pocket watch key!
I found several examples online, albeit most being this pushbutton type, but notice the shape of the bits.
Marking it solved.
Thanks for all the input.

 

[Deftone]

Is that the best example you have compared to roach clip examples?

 

[Oregon Viking]

Took it to a local antique shop and showed it to the 85 year old proprietor who immediately recognized it as an adjustable pocket watch key!
I found several examples online, albeit most being this pushbutton type, but notice the shape of the bits.
Marking it solved.
Thanks for all the input.

Now you can find the pocket watch!!

 

[Gare]

I used to have a buddy that had a volks wagon and the oil dip stick was held by something looking similar to this. DO NOT HOLD me to this though LOL

 

[Dejure]

It, obviously, is the very first set of tweezers ever made.

 

[Gare]

GOOD JOB !!!