Ill tell you what it is not....

[johnnyi]

I'll tell you what it is not....

It is not a "coat hook". It is far too thin and fragile (besides it would make one nasty hole in any coat!).

It was found at a site of exclusively colonial relics.

It is cast brass, broken off at its widest part, and has a very thin taper going to the small end.

There is even wear (not isolated) on the inside curve (measured by caliper) showing it probably hooked something, or something rode over it.

 

[Roger Mn.]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

It looks like part of a hat rack. If that's what it is there would have been 4.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Could even be a lantern hook. I have found several pieces which I think are lantern hooks at old sites. Could've come off the front of a house, or a carriage...


-Buckles

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Could even be a lantern hook. I have found several pieces which I think are lantern hooks at old sites. Could've come off the front of a house, or a carriage...


-Buckles

Good idea

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

or could be a old pot hook

 

[johnnyi]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

I'm convinced this cannot be a coat hook for the reasons I gave alredy; it's size, fragility, the date of the site (which was not in use after the colonial period and which was remote), the humble nature of the site, and if those were not enough, the practice of using pegs for hanging garments during this time period. Buckles idea may be closer, bit again, this site was humble and a nail would have seemed more likely.

 

[allen]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

hat or lantern hook sounds right,
or even maybe a part of a gun rack.

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

could it be the end of a teapot handle ?

 

[spartacus53]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

I would go with a coat, or hat hook. I think you were viewing your find from the wrong angle as it does not appear to dammage any goods, that piece with the curve is actually the end piece and it appears to be broken off from the main part of the base.

 

[johnnyi]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Sparticus, Allen, once again, this is quite small and fragile. Yes, the point (which is very thin. thinner than it appears in the piucture) of course points upwards were it a "coat hook".) Once more, this was found at a site which consisted of every find dating from the colonial period. Again, the location was humble. Coat hooks, even if this could be one (which I'm convinced for numerous reasons already mentioned is not), would not have been used. Wooden pegs were used. As well, coat hooks do not cause obvious wear to the inside bend. Neither do "hat hooks".

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Lantern hooks would have the metal-against-metal wear on the inside of the hook, as shown above. That's the only thing I can think of that it might be. I have found hooks at very humble homes before--but the hooks I have found are usually more ornate and thicker.


-BB

 

[Dano Sverige]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Wear on the inside of the bend would be conversant with a lantern or gun rack. (barrel end due to it's size.)

 

[Roger Mn.]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

How about a robe hook. Maybe it was used to hang a powder horn on right next to the door and the old musket in the corner.

 

[mojjax]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Maybe it' part of a 17th or 18th century Skewer Holder ?

 

[johnnyi]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Mojjax, that looks like a great book. What is the name of it? I think your's is the kind of source that might explain this thing eventually, particularly if there's some chapter on brass items. Your examples show the huge variations in the simplist of objects. They are iron and forged however, so they don't apply to this particular object, but thank you. By the way, are there any colonial "coat hooks" in there?

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

someone seems to know it all the rest of us are useless here

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

johnnyi look at this link and tell me if this is possible. http://www.eddonaldson.com/rimloc33.htm

 

[johnnyi]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Trader, thanks for looking, but I don't think so due to the thinness and the bend. . If I ever get it solved it will undoubtedly end up being something equally strange though!

What's really frustrating to convey through pictures is the fragility of this thing. For instance, calipers on its tip show it is is only the thickness of a U.S. quarter, and it is a gradual taper from there to less than a quarter of an inch at the very thickest part. Whatever it is, the wear on the inside of the curve (3/16th of an inch measured between 1/4 inch on both the broken and the pointed end) show it couldn't have worn like that from coats.
(again, I seem to remember some old lamp lighter having a hook but so far can't find any matching examples)

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Jim old man, where's that montana sense of humor? You don't have to help me solve this if you don't want to (wish you would, because you come up with good ideas), but the point I was trying to make since that "first post" was that these fancy things weren't around then, and examples from "coat racks unlimited" or "lamps n' stuff" are not going to change that fact.

My Montana sense of humor was usurped by my Native New Yorker attitiude I guess.

I'm not able to help, I'll unclutter the topic.

 

[johnnyi]

Re: I'll tell you what it is not....

Heck Jim, sorry to see you bow out.