Old Key

[jankmccreary]

What is this?

 

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[Will_detect4food]

looks like an old water key, found on commercial hose bibs

 

[omnicognic]

It's a gas valve key, often used for fireplaces..here is a modern example:

 

[trk5capt]

looks like an old water key, found on commercial hose bibs

I Have To Agree With Will On This One. trk5capt...

 

[mojjax]

Maybe a bleader key for those old cast iron radiators ?

 

[Michelle]

it kinda looks like a winder that use to wind up old toys....sorta...

 

[gldhntr]

doc has it nailed.....

 

[mojjax]

here some newer radiator vent keys.

 

[Angelo]

That's what I'm going for.

Tony

 

[dg39]

Clock Key.

 

[dg39]

Generic. most all had a uniform sized winding shaft. Ansonia, Waterbury, New Haven ,Etc.

 

[dg39]

Turn of the Century fancy. (1800 to 1900 to you youngsters.)


But: It could also be possibly used for a gas floor heater. Fancy free standing one. That is the other possibility.
Seems I remember those as a child. (I love to muddy the water, every once in a while) I think most of the keys had a 1/4 inch square hole in the key for a clock. A little bigger for the gas regulator shaft.

 

[dg39]

Note to self:
No mint juleps at lunch.

1900 to 2000 .. Ya, happy now Jack?

 

[Michelle]

good call Doc!

 

[Glenns5900]

What about a skate key. I remember having some old metal roller skates when I was a kid that used a key about like this to tighten them on the soles of your shoes.

 

[Will_detect4food]

Its a winder upper for that puller outer in the other post

 

[PBK]

If you compare it to illustrations in Stewart's Standard Guide to Key Collecting, you can find fairly close matches in clock, cabinet, skate, and water keys. I hereby unhesitatingly vote, "Key."

 

[PBK]

I have no idea whether that's a stylized "W" or mere ornamental scrollwork on the bow of the key. One of your posts mentions Waterbury clock keys, and while some of those do have a sort of "W" silhouette, others don't (or at least it's obscured by another part of the key). Here's an example of each. Not the same sort of key in either case, however. I'll let someone else take up the chase from here.

 

[Michelle]

Its a winder upper for that puller outer in the other post

 

[jankmccreary]

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone for the very informative discussion, It was dug by my parents house, a 1856 home.
Found a CW ammobox breastplate, not far from the key, hope too post some more finds soon, Thanks again