✅ SOLVED Odd brass clockwork piece ?

[steelheadwill]

Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

I've dug a lot of clockworks, none with ratcheting drum cylinders like this,
they both will only rotate counterclockwise (viewed from the front of instrument)
Is this clockwork or some other instrument
thanks for looking!

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

looks like a clockwork, or wind up mechanism part to me, I have no clue what kind though. Is there anything that might suggest that there were springs in the drum parts at one time?

 

[allan]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

could it possibly be a post office box door ?

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

Po box door is interesting, I still use one with two side by side dials
There are hooks on the inner walls of each drum that a spring would attach to.
they are oriented correctly against the ratcheting.
Certainly a windup mechanism, the holed shaft on rear (missing it's 'ring')
shows this, though I know of no clockwork with two large springs...
wait, one spring for clock mech, one spring for alarm mech
I think it's getting close to greencheck this

 

[Hill Billy]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

Po box door is interesting, I still use one with two side by side dials
There are hooks on the inner walls of each drum that a spring would attach to.
they are oriented correctly against the ratcheting.
Certainly a windup mechanism, the holed shaft on rear (missing it's 'ring')
shows this, though I know of no clockwork with two large springs...
wait, one spring for clock mech, one spring for alarm mech
I think it's getting close to greencheck this

How about an old timer of some kind?

 

[digging wv]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

Have never seen a P.O.Box with that kind of mechanism in it. Not to say it isn't, But have never seen one like it in my career. Back in the day the local postalmaster had to buy their own window and how many, if any, boxes. I supposed it could be a very old item. But have never run into anything like that

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

Po box door is interesting, I still use one with two side by side dials
There are hooks on the inner walls of each drum that a spring would attach to.
they are oriented correctly against the ratcheting.
Certainly a windup mechanism, the holed shaft on rear (missing it's 'ring')
shows this, though I know of no clockwork with two large springs...
wait, one spring for clock mech, one spring for alarm mech
I think it's getting close to greencheck this

How about an old timer of some kind?

Thanks all!
on clocks with alarms, you'd wind both the clock and the alarm springs, the smaller drum has no 'Winder' on back of piece, the larger does, I suppose they were gear connected....
We'll wait & see if we get more input, as i have yet to see a clockwork with the springs enclosed like this. HH all

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

It is most certainly a piece of a wind-up, mid to late 1800s clock. I have dug many of these, one with the original key in the back. Someone posted a photo of one on Tnet (non-dug) with the original wooden case some time ago.

Best Wishes,

Buckles

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Odd brass 'clockwork' piece ?

Thanks Buckleboy & BCH,
BigCypress, looks like an exact match to your dug piece.
my mistake was thinking Spring for alarm, , it's the Chime spring...
after seeing the intact clock, I examined my own 19th century Presswood,
hoping to see those drums, no such luck, just shiny new springs I had put in.
(I had it examined, and was told if the old springs break, the movement is history)
It does look similar to movement in intact clock. Great ID everyone! Thanks & HH

 

[DARKCYDE]

I found one of these a few months ago and came across this thread.