🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Part of an Artillery Sighting System?

[Mason Jarr]

I'm not sure what this is. If you look closely you can see a reverse fraction scale from 1 down to 1/8. Some of it is missing so I'm not sure of the complete size. I found it at an 1870s military site. I'm wondering if it's part of an artillery aiming system. Likely something much simpler though. There's no writing on the back side.

 

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[DizzyDigger]

Can't help on the ID, but it's an interesting find.

 

[Mason Jarr]

Can't help on the ID, but it's an interesting find.

It's is. I'll be happy if we can find out what it is.

 

[ironhorse]

There looks like increments of an inch stamped into it so I'm going to say it's a measuring device of some sort
Might have been the end of an old fashioned measuring stick...glad to get the ball rolling

 

[Mason Jarr]

@TheCannonballGuy Any idea?

 

[Tony in SC]

Part of a miter gauge from an old saw.

 

[Mason Jarr]

Part of a miter gauge from an old saw.

Possibly. Did you see an example? Miters are usually in degrees, not fractions.

 

[Gare]

No idea but you sure do find some interesting things out there

 

[Mason Jarr]

No idea but you sure do find some interesting things out there

Thanks. Yes, sometimes. I like finding these odd ball things, but don't like not figuring out what they are.

 

[Gare]

Thanks. Yes, sometimes. I like finding these odd ball things, but don't like not figuring out what they are.

I think perhaps out there you will get used to it LOL
]

 

[Mason Jarr]

I think perhaps out there you will get used to it LOL
]

No doubt. This isn't the first one I haven't identified. I expect it's not the last either. Ha.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Mason Jarr said:
> @TheCannonballGuy Any idea?

No idea, except that I'm certain it is not part of any artillery-related device.

To me, the presence of the long slot, and its round-ended shape, are key ID-clues. Usually when I see a slot like that in a small metal object, the slot is there to hold a "traversing adjustment" lockdown screw or bolt... like Tony In SC is envisioning when he guessed the object is a miter gauge from an electric saw. Or, the slot's purpose is to reveal something that would otherwise be hidden under the object... such as a glass tube, like a thermometer. But for the moment, because I can't think of a definite ID, I'll go with the slot being for a traversing lockdown screw or bolt. (I used to know but now cannot remember the "engineering" term for that.)

 

[Mason Jarr]

Mason Jarr said:
> @TheCannonballGuy Any idea?

No idea, except that I'm certain it is not part of any artillery-related device.

To me, the presence of the long slot, and its round-ended shape, are key ID-clues. Usually when I see a slot like that in a small metal object, the slot is there to hold a "traversing adjustment" lockdown screw or bolt... like Tony In SC is envisioning when he guessed the object is a miter gauge from an electric saw. Or, the slot's purpose is to reveal something that would otherwise be hidden under the object... such as a glass tube, like a thermometer. But for the moment, because I can't think of a definite ID, I'll go with the slot being for a traversing lockdown screw or bolt. (I used to know but now cannot remember the "engineering" term for that.)

Thanks for looking. I'll keep trying to see if I can find out what it is.