NO CLUE WHAT THIS IS FOUND AT 1700s HOUSE SITE, IN THE WATER

[calmerthanu]

NO CLUE WHAT THIS IS FOUND AT 1700's HOUSE SITE, IN THE WATER

hunting riverbank in front of remnants of colonial era house, my friend found this piece well preserved in the mud, no clue what it is, there are letters on it looks like biral??

 

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[Hosensack]

Where is the site located? State or county not GPS coordinates obviously...there was a Joseph Ing from edgecomb county north Carolina in the mid 1700's...long shot but if that is where you are just might be.

 

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[vhs07]

What you see as a Jo looks like a P to me when enlarged. Also, in the round hole, is that dirt or broken glass?

 

[savant365]

Is this this part hollow? like a liquid or air/steam would flow though it?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont think a door stop would be personalized unless its the name of the company. It reminds me of half of a drafting compass but I doubt it.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Here's a thought, it could be a whistle cane topper. They seem to have been pretty popular at one time.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

johNy, johN g, jo.iNg, joAN g

 

[Hot zone]

Perhaps a hinge part for a lamp striker that could fold back out of the way after lighting the porch lamp. That may explain it being ornate.

 

[calmerthanu]

hosensack, it was found in eastern va, and savant365 it is hollow, u can blow air through it

 

[savant365]

johNy, johN g, jo.iNg, joAN g View attachment 651278

I went through a bunch of those possibilities but I don't think that is an "N" before the g. all the other letters are lower case and that would be a capitol N if it was an N.

 

[Hot zone]

Could a stick match be held in the hole. And a striker mechanism have lit it?

 

[creskol]

I think the secret to unlocking this mystery is for the poster to study the lettering under high magnification and learn exactly what the letters are.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looking at it again, the entire engraving with the "designs" are kinda amateur.

I just noticed its on only one side. I would guess it was done after it was manufactured. But who would engrave a doorstop?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Perhaps a hinge part for a lamp striker that could fold back out of the way after lighting the porch lamp. That may explain it being ornate.

Good idea but it doesnt explain why it has a threaded wood screw. It appears made to screw into wood like a door stop or coat hook. But who would engrave such an item? We are obviously missing part of it.

 

[savant365]

I was thinking maybe a wooden handle screwed on to it and it was connected to some kind of valve attached to other end. Kinda like a beer tap or old soda fountain.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is the treaded part also brass? All the door stops or coat hangers I have seen have rusted off steel threads. The type that attaches to the hinge posted by NGE has no need for a wood screw.

View attachment 651356

I just read savants post that it may have attached to a wood handle.

The large hole is very important. Something pivoted on this hole. Could it be a kickdown type and the screw attached to rubber?

 

[georgiajeff]

Hmmm....I always like trying to figure out what these sorts of things are. To me this looks like the underside of desk bell - not the regular sort of hotel clerk bell, but a similar type with the "trigger" to the side. The screw part would attach to the bell base. Here's the type of bell, although the configuration is a bit different underneath, you can see that there are various points for spring attachments that would fit the other holes on your piece. I've also seen similar devices on antique "shop" bells - the kind that are mounted to the door and have multiple bells attached. Maybe? Beautiful Antique Metal Front Desk Bell | eBay

 

[PullTabPete]

Since air can blow through, I think it looks a pipe, the smoking kind. Maybe you could screw a tip on the end?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I'm thinking the engraving might actually say "young"

 

[gunntekk1]

could it be a cannon fuse tool to light the cannon fuses

 

[gunntekk1]

ok cannons have a touch hole. you would screw it to a pole and run the cord through the tube area and ignite the cannon