star gear?

[wstgo]

found in cellar hole
it is about as thin as a dime or a tad thinner. it has a green aged look not sure if its copper. has a small slit between two teeth.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is it thinner or as thin as a dime?

 

[timekiller]

Looks alot like a WHIRLIGIG or BUZZER.Which were made to be childs toys.They were made from many useless items like old wore out coins & such.Just a thought as it come to me looking at your find.And might explain why the two small holes seem wore out looking.
Take Care,
Pete,
http://www.historylives.com/toysandgames.htm

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looks alot like a WHIRLIGIG or BUZZER.Which were made to be childs toys.They were made from many useless items like old wore out coins & such.Just a thought as it come to me looking at your find.And might explain why the two small holes seem wore out looking.
Take Care,
Pete,
http://www.historylives.com/toysandgames.htm

That would make a good one!

Here is a colonial example.

 

[wstgo]

Timekiller,

I think you're right about the WHIRLIGIG thing, a childs toy. I did think of that when I first found it because it was an old colonial cellar hole but for some reason it looked like some type of gear. Thanks

 

[aka da Prof]

I don't think a buzzer would have the square shaft hole as this does. Also, those rings might be worn into it.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I don't think a buzzer would have the square shaft hole as this does. Also, those rings might be worn into it.

I dont know what it was originally made for but I believe Timekiller is correct in that it was made into a childs buzzer toy. It appears to be machine stamped but the 2 holes are worn, crudely punched and unevenly spaced..

Before the Industrial Revolution, the technology of copper production consisted of a coppersmith hammering out objects, using an anvil to shape the creations. In 1769, John Pickering, a London toymaker, patented his machine for stamping articles out of sheet metal.

The Industrial Revolution first began in England and later spread to America. The period of time covered by the Industrial Revolution varies with different historians. Eric Hobsbawm held that it 'broke out' in Britain in the 1780s and was not fully felt until the 1830s or 1840s,[7] while T. S. Ashton held that it occurred roughly between 1760 and 1830.[ wikipedia


This item was machine stamped during the Industrial Revolution and very possibly made later into a buzzer toy. I dont think it was a sprocket because its too thin but it obviously turned as noted by the grooves. I think it was some kind of finger turn adjustment thingy but for what Im not certain. More pics cant hurt.

 

[timekiller]

I don't think a buzzer would have the square shaft hole as this does. Also, those rings might be worn into it.

Yes I kinda threw it out there.And the square hole does cause a problem for me as well.It really looks like some kinda Idler gear and could just be. But trying to figure out what it came off of will be a trick I would think.So many things with small gears.Who knows though it could have served as both too.Gear & Toy once broken. Heres one I'm purdy sure was a toy just posted today & got me thinking that way.
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,404973.0.html
Take Care,
Pete,

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The screw holes may also have been made later to fasten it securely. It does appear the holes were punched later by the owner not the factory.

 

[timekiller]

The screw holes may also have been made later to fasten it securely. It does appear the holes were punched later by the owner not the factory.

Yea they look funny to me too BCH.But could be just how it worked itself over time.People made fun at the begining that it was another egg counter & it could reach that that level trying to place what it came off of. Being a gear I think if one wanted they could go on & on with things it could go on you know.If it does I pulling out.
Take Care,
Pete,

 

[witgar]

Looks like a grinding wheel to me:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=2&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:27,s:27&tx=76&ty=46

While saying this, another idea pops up in my mind:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=1&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=128&ty=100 ,

A wheel from a brushcutter, but it's probably to small for that? And that gives no answer for the square hole...

 

[witgar]

Looks like a grinding wheel to me:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=2&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:27,s:27&tx=76&ty=46

While saying this, another idea pops up in my mind:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=1&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=128&ty=100 ,

A wheel from a brushcutter, but it's probably to small for that? And that gives no answer for the square hole...

naaah never mind i'm totally wrong

 

[timekiller]

Looks like a grinding wheel to me:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=2&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:27,s:27&tx=76&ty=46

While saying this, another idea pops up in my mind:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=1&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=128&ty=100 ,

A wheel from a brushcutter, but it's probably to small for that? And that gives no answer for the square hole...

naaah never mind i'm totally wrong

It's funny you brought it up though.Cause The other day when I first looked at it I thought about a Pepper Mill Grinder as I had one one time that I swear had a gear in it much like that.And the square hole would work as well.You can look up pepper grinder parts & see what I mean.But I just can't find one like it.
Take Care,
Pete,

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looks like a grinding wheel to me:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=2&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:27,s:27&tx=76&ty=46

While saying this, another idea pops up in my mind:
http://www.google.be/imgres?imgurl=...ge=1&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=128&ty=100 ,

A wheel from a brushcutter, but it's probably to small for that? And that gives no answer for the square hole...

naaah never mind i'm totally wrong

The item is copper so it cant be any of those things. I would be thinking much older as well.

 

[creskol]

It could be some kind of a funky back-plate/escutcheon for an old drop pull, similar to the one below