✅ SOLVED old cannonball...? East coast Florida

[kookiman]

I found this object partially buried in the sand..it's about 7 1/2" in diameter and is made of iron. There was a "bottom section" that made it rounded in the bottom (rusted away) and it appears to have a ring attached to the side of it. It is hollow inside and had a top piece which may have held a fuse... I was thinking it was the type of cannon balls that are chained together to launch into the riggings/sails of opposing ships. Anybody have any ideas ? Thanks a bunch from a newbie.

 

[bradyboy]

I think its an old fire pot, they still make them today for patio decoration, lighting
Brady

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

To determine with certainty whether it is from a cannonball or not, we need more than just one photo of it. In particular, we need to see the opposite side of what you showed, and another photo showing how "thick" the edge of the object is.

 

[aquachigger]

I think it may be a "smudge pot". One use of them was for warnings at construction sites back in the day. I actually remember seeing them lit on the side of the road at night. I've found a few in the rivers. They were also used in orchards for bugs and frost.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I used to have one of those long ago, I remember when I was a kid thinking they were bombs just like in the cartoons!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The "perfectly-smooth" edge of the object means it definitely is not part of an exploded cannonball.

 

[ticm]

I think it may be a "smudge pot". One use of them was for warnings at construction sites back in the day. I actually remember seeing them lit on the side of the road at night. I've found a few in the rivers. They were also used in orchards for bugs and frost.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=655637"/>

I have not seen one of those in years.

 

[kookiman]

Thanks so much for the info...the spot where I found it is actually on a small island in a National wildlife refuge. It has a history of Spanish occupation, native Indians, shipwrecks etc. so I was hoping it was a relic of some sort. There were orange groves throughout this region so it makes sense that it is an old smudgepot.

 

[bradyboy]

I meant to say smudge pot, im pretty sure of it ( Icalled it a fire pot)
they still make them for deco patio lighting.
They are illegal now for street use, have been for years. used instead of flares or night work
Brady