Purpose of a 2 inch piece of copper/brass tubing with wire? (Update-2nd Tube)

[Don in SJ]

Over the years I have found a few of these, mostly at homestead from the 1800's era. It looks like all the ones I found are the same, 2 inches in length, with wire wrapped around the center of it.7 Found this one this morning near the hem weight. Usually at homesteads, but this one was associated with an early 1800's Iron Forge and Sawmill, occupied till about Civil War period.
Don

 

[B|lker]

Valve on a steam engine?
Never worked on one so i haven`t a clue.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Is the tube with the lead in it closed on one end?

 

[goldguru]

possibly a steam engine ajustable governor Weight?
after you showed lead insert..lead used to raise or lower engine speed?

 

[Don in SJ]

Is the tube with the lead in it closed on one end?

The tube with the lead in it is identical to the first tube, which in the second photo on first post shows completely both open ended tube.

 

[intimer]

early taffy extruder
removable hanging device for painting or storing things... then you had to come up with the lead!
pre cap gun----cap buster
for making big birthday cake candle
wind chime
pill inserter
kids toy---bug masher
early consumer reports testing device. "drop weight 2 inches -- see if object holds up."
if the lead were wrapped. it could then extrude a measured amount of....grease?

very wag! no harm - no fowl

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

tough one

 

[Don in SJ]

tough one

Sure is Big Cy Since I am not 100% sure where all were found but 100% certain one was found in association with a homestead that housed the owner of a well known Iron forge from approx 1815-1830. But, the site was occupied prior to that, since it was a Saw mill site from the 1700s. After the iron forge closed down, I think the area slowly went from a tiny community (a few worker houses, Tavern, plus the mansion the owner lived in) to a total ghost town mid 1800s.

Be my luck on this one that it came from some contraption from the 1940's, ya just never know.

Don

 

[johnnyi]

Don, we might as well attack this thing, because it's sure not going away. I'll post some things about it that I see, and maybe others can debate those points or agree, so at least we can have some new starting place to begin figurig it out.

1) These objects were found in one fairly local area. (indicating possibly one maker, or local custom, and perhaps also suggesting this was a unique invention)

2) These objects are homemade. (again suggesting a possibly unique local invention)

3) The patina and age of site suggest late 1700's -early 1800's but date is unknown.

4) The brass wire wrappings seem to have a fairly long straight twist (possibly indicating that as well as securing the wire, they may have gone through wood with ends crimped over to secure)

5) The tubes are double wrapped with at least one scored (probably to prevent tube from riding out of the loop)

6) Tubes act as a sleeve to guide the weight.

7) The tubes were attached at their center point. (this is curious, as it might require these to be attached within a corner or a groove (in wood?) to prevent pivoting.)

8) lead weight is secured by steel wire (making it seem unlikely that these were designed to be used under water for any length of time)

**9) Possibly a direct weight to something above, or a counterweight attached directly to a lever above. (steel wire wouldn't allow for any bends or pulleys as the weight is too light)

**10) What ever this was, its use seems to have been short lived. (possibly indicating it was follwed soon by a better design)

Does that all sound about right?

Don , we talked privately about the "perfect mousetrap" of which there were many kinds made during colonial times, and with many live traps made of wood. Unfortunately we can't resurrect Rube Goldberg, as he could tell us exactly what this was used for.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think they could be homemade corkscrews. http://www.corkscrewnet.com/MacLeanWilliamsonStory.htm

 

[timekiller]

I think they could be homemade corkscrews. http://www.corkscrewnet.com/MacLeanWilliamsonStory.htm

Hum where did I see that lately!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think they could be homemade corkscrews. http://www.corkscrewnet.com/MacLeanWilliamsonStory.htm

Hum where did I see that lately!

I got the idea from your link and I remembered this old unsolved post. At one time corkscrews must have been as common as can and bottle cap openers.

 

[timekiller]

I think they could be homemade corkscrews. http://www.corkscrewnet.com/MacLeanWilliamsonStory.htm

Hum where did I see that lately!

I got the idea from your link and I remembered this old unsolved post. At one time corkscrews must have been as common as can and bottle cap openers.

I'm just picking with you BIG C,GOOD Memory you have there Buddy!It Looks like a good guess to me.

 

[intimer]

maybe the brass thing was a mold to make the lead thing?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

maybe the brass thing was a mold to make the lead thing?

I think the homemade lead piece is inconsequential. It may have been inserted for strength or may have nothing at all to do with it. Im waiting to see what Don in SJ thinks.

 

[timekiller]

maybe the brass thing was a mold to make the lead thing?

I think the homemade lead piece is inconsequential. It may have been inserted for strength or may have nothing at all to do with it. Im waiting to see what Don in SJ thinks.

I Agree use to give strength to the copper tube! If for no other reason then when the wire was wraped around it to keep from squashing it.Cause you would have to rap it tight to get it to stay.Same with the grove part made to hold the wire in place.Also the lead piece having the wire on it would allow you to pull it out after you wraped the wire around the copper so could be used over maybe to make others.My best guess.

Just a test I done with somethings I had laying around but with out something in the middle it will squash and deform I done this with out nothing in the middle and to get the wire tight enough to stay it started to squash also might even be thicker tubeing then what's above from the looks.Maybe it will Help Don I don't know otherwise.Just trying to help out.
Take Care!
Pete,

 

[Don in SJ]

Big Cy, close but don't think so, forget that mine came with a lead insert that also has a wire attached to it? Also mine has a ridge around the center. Also, no way could wire of that gauge be used as a cork screw in my opinion. I also believe the manufactured ones are longer. Other than those few things, it is plausable, but I sure am not convinced at all.

Don

 

[kiddcrappie]

Over the years I have found a few of these, mostly at homestead from the 1800's era. It looks like all the ones I found are the same, 2 inches in length, with wire wrapped around the center of it.7 Found this one this morning near the hem weight. Usually at homesteads, but this one was associated with an early 1800's Iron Forge and Sawmill, occupied till about Civil War period.
Don

what great news,thats why I came back on here! thanks brother