Odd silver and copper/brass object

[rastinirv]

This one has stumped me. Found today in an old park I've been to many times which has been around since 1935.

One end has a bent up bit of (what I could swear is) sterling silver attached to a small shaft. This leads to a bell-shaped brass or copper piece over a longer silver-colored (not sure if this part is sterling) cylinder, from which five little balled-end copper or brass wires protrude.

Any ideas?

 

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[Breezie]

When you press down on the top rod, does that cause the 5 parts at the bottom to extend?

Neat find
Breezie

 

[rastinirv]

No, but that had occurred to me, and maybe it ince did. However, I just noticed the small silver bit that sticks out has a little indentation on it, like an earring post, so I'm guessing it was some kind of bizarre, elaborate earring...

 

[Breezie]

The reason I asked that question is it reminds me of a '5 Finger Grabber Tool' that is used to pick-up small screws, tacks, etc. when dropped in tight areas. You press the top, and the 5 fingers protrude to grab the item.

It may be corroded on the inside, thus not able to work. Give it a shot on the inside with WD-40 to see if it loosens the interior parts.


Breezie