Head scratcher for me

[vhs07]

Barn find that looks like a small funnel but the small end is closed off. It's made of nickle plated brass. it's 6 inches long and the bowl is 2½ inches across.
Has a brand mane of Curtin USA within a circle. That's the only writing I can find on it. Any ideas?

 

[nhbenz]

So far I see thermometers and gauges made by them, for example: Antique Curtin U.S.A. Wood and Brass Grain Thermometer in Good Working Condition ? $49.99 - PicClick

 

[trapperart]

May be a grain scoop, used to get predetermined amount of grain to weigh and determine moisture

 

[nhbenz]

Figured out that the full name of the company is "W.H.Curtin & Co.", and they made laboratory equipment, based out of Houston (not far from you). There are large old catalogs listed online of their stuff... hopefully this wasn't one of the obscure pieces.

 

[Anduril]

Maybe this fits inside a centrifuge?

 

[kcm]

I give up! Have seen one of these before - even knew what it was. But now I can't find hide nor hair of what it might be.

I keep looking at that sealed end. What is that on the bottom? Is it caked-on grease? Why does it look like the bottom is epoxied on there? (rhetorical question...just thinking) ...The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking it may be part of an old grease packer for bearings, or some such device.

 

[vhs07]

I give up! Have seen one of these before - even knew what it was. But now I can't find hide nor hair of what it might be.

I keep looking at that sealed end. What is that on the bottom? Is it caked-on grease? Why does it look like the bottom is epoxied on there? (rhetorical question...just thinking) ...The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking it may be part of an old grease packer for bearings, or some such device.

As far as I can tell, what I see on the bottom is the remains of the nickle plating

 

[cudamark]

Cookie cutter?

 

[kcm]

If you look at the pic of the small end, there are what appear to be some chip marks from about the 11 o'clock to the 3 o'clock positions. So does that lighter colored area go inward, as though chipped out? Or does it protrude outward, as if something stuck to and dried in place? Is difficult to tell from the pic.

Then there's the darker ring that goes all around the rounded end in the same pic. It "looks" a bit rusty. Is that where zinc plating has worn away? Is it some sort of build-up from something?

Eh, just drill a hole through the bottom and call it a funnel.