✅ SOLVED Iron coupling or adapter? Found deep in the woods. Not sure why it was there?

FreeBirdTim · May 5, 2017

Found this weird iron coupling or adapter today. It was 6 inches down and deep in the woods next to a stone wall. No cellar holes in this area, so I'm not sure why this would be in the woods.

It's 2 inches high and 2 inches wide and the ID is 1 1/2 inches. There are no threads inside it, so I can't imagine how it would attach to anything. Any guesses as to what this thing is would be appreciated.

releventchair · May 5, 2017

Not recognising it. A ferrule perhaps.
Stone walls took time to build. Could be tool related or conveyance used piece.

cudamark · May 6, 2017

Axle bearing for a cart or wagon?

tamrock · May 6, 2017

I believe that's part of an early boss compression fit air connection. I sell the ones made by Dixon. That part they called the wing nut. What goes in it is called the stem and it would couple to your air rockdrill or another air supply to a male spud. All you need is a hammer to snug it air tight or uncouple the connection. Loggers may have left that also as they used air tuggers to drag cut timber out from the cutting area. ??

FreeBirdTim · May 6, 2017

Axle bearing for a cart or wagon

I think you're on the right track! Here's a photo of a wagon wheel. My part looks like it goes inside the wheel. Maybe that's why it has wings on it. You'd tap the piece into the wooden hub and that would lock it in place.

BosnMate · May 6, 2017

cudamark said:
Axle bearing for a cart or wagon?

It's the boxing out of a wooden wheel hub. The hub is drilled, this boxing installed, which is a little larger than the spindle on the axel, and the bearing is babbit.

BosnMate · May 6, 2017

FreeBirdTim said:
You'd tap the piece into the wooden hub and that would lock it in place.

Exactly.

4x4x4 · May 6, 2017

BosnMate said:
It's the boxing out of a wooden wheel hub. The hub is drilled, this boxing installed, which is a little larger than the spindle on the axel, and the bearing is babbit.
View attachment 1448090
View attachment 1448091

....This find looks much shorter BUT could easily have been broken in half(as noted in pic).

BosnMate · May 6, 2017

4x4x4 said:
....This find looks much shorter BUT could easily have been broken in half(as noted in pic).

Or a smaller wheel, or a narrow wheel. The picture I showed is for a buggy or wagon, but wheels were made for many things in many sizes, from kids toys to carts to Conastoga Wagons and larger.