metal sphere, but what is it?

[CCDAMEEK]

I am trying to find out what this sphere might be for a friend. It was found many years ago along the eastern coast of Florida, near Cape Canaveral.

The sphere is approximately 4" in diameter, has a seam in the middle and marks that makes me think that the two halves were pressed together.
There is a hole in one end that is filled with a hard material, that is now green. (copper maybe).
It is made of non-magnetic metal, and although dented, it is very hard.
And if you shake the item, it sounds like some kind of granules is inside, and mostly filled with them.
The sphere floats.

Any ideas??

 

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[Kray Gelder]

fishing net float?

 

[Kray Gelder]

Or a valve float, something like this.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Flagpole topper.....

 

[RW]

Toilet float?

 

[LouMiller]

Toilet float and the granules inside are rust flakes .

 

[Peyton Manning]

Probably not a toilet float, but a bilge pump float

 

[CCDAMEEK]

Toilet float and the granules inside are rust flakes .

This seams pretty sturdy to be a toilet ball float, and it is non-magnetic, therefor, no rust.

 

[CCDAMEEK]

Probably not a toilet float, but a bilge pump float

What size boat would have this? This seams plausible, but what would be inside in a sealed sphere? Any photo's?

 

[LouMiller]

This seams pretty sturdy to be a toilet ball float, and it is non-magnetic, therefor, no rust.

the inside where the weld is would certainly rust from condensation on the inside. Could be brazing material. Here is a pic from Grainger.com of one they sell. The green you speak of is probably where the copper arm connects.

 

[CCDAMEEK]

Flagpole topper.....

View attachment 1798567

Great thought, but thinking this sphere is pretty roughly made to be used for a topper. Those striations on both halves are pretty deep. It wouldn't look very good!

 

[CCDAMEEK]

fishing net float?

I have found a few metal fishing net floats in researching. Nothing matches precisely, but where it was found this was thought about!

 

[Gene Mean]

metal bocce ball. Bocce balls are about 4 inches diameter and 2 pounds. What's the weight of yours?

 

[Retired Sarge]

Great thought, but thinking this sphere is pretty roughly made to be used for a topper. Those striations on both halves are pretty deep. It wouldn't look very good!

To give you an ideal how rough a flagpole finial can be. Seeing they are typically 20 feet or higher on a residential flagpole, not many people notice how rough some are, especially some vintage ones. Then look at some of the newer ones, like mine, I had to smooth out the seam some, and it's been repainted 3 times now, plus I added an eagle on top to make it look better. On my previous pole the finial was so rough it actually separated at the seam. Just food for thought........

 

[TooManyHobbies]

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai...MIsYezqbC95wIVCbSzCh0LSAWREAkYCyABEgKBDfD_BwE

Sump pump float?

 

[GoldieLocks]

I vote flag pole topper, look up old manufacturers.

 

[johnnyjohnson2043]

The very first Poké Ball. Gotta catch 'em all!

 

[A2coins]

I wonder how you haven't cracked it open by now. I say toilet float

 

[MadTom]

Float for bilge or metal tee marker from golf course

 

[oredigger62]

the inside where the weld is would certainly rust from condensation on the inside. Could be brazing material. Here is a pic from Grainger.com of one they sell. The green you speak of is probably where the copper arm connects. View attachment 1798572

I agree with this one.