Really old Iron Faucet Handle???

[relicmeister]

Found in woods where there are 1800's home-sites and near Iron mines that were active from Colonial
through about 1930's. Any ideas? It was caked with corrosion when I found it. The hole does not go through
and the other side is just a stub, but is not smooth and could have had a piece broken off .
Thanks.

 

[kuger]

Thats the head of a rock drill.Sometimes made of carbide.The hole in the middle was to shoot a jet of water to prevent "Rocks in the Box",or silicosis,when drilling quartz.Air was also shot through to clear the dust

 

[relicmeister]

Kudos, Kugar for your ID. Makes sense, particularly since I found another one in same vicinity, a bit larger,andcome to think of it,
I had noticed that one seemed harder when hitting it with a hammer to knock off crust and at even seemed that the fresh material
exposed by the hammer blows had a yellowish hue. Any idea how long these type of rock drills have been in use?

 

[kuger]

I want to say to the 1870's I will look into that,for sure 1880's

ah,hah,I was in the ball park
http://www.asme.org/kb/news---articles/articles/construction-and-building/simon-ingersoll

Looking at that picture ,I can hear that thing run!Its quite a sound!!