Three years, no answers

[Mr Ripley]

Hi everyone,

One of the things that I am coming to appreciate about this site is the enthusiasm that the members display trying to help each other out, especially in the IDing of some unknown artifact. I figured I would throw this item up here and see if anyone may offer up some info.

I dug this about three years ago, right after I got my Ace250. It was dug in the yard of an old farm house. It seems to be made of brass and it stands about 2" tall. The wide open end has female threads, and a perfectly machined keyhole shape creates an opening from the wide end to the "caged" end.

I hope that the pictures are helpful. Any information would be appreciated, after three years and many questions I have come up empty.

Thanks,

Mr R

 

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[La Beep]

End cap for outside stairs handrail. (At an angle)

Best bet right here...1st thing that came to mind even before I came across this response.

We had considered that possibility early, but could come up with no logical explanation for the keyhole. Brass would also be overkill for a single step entering a very simple house, if you saw the house I am sure you would agree.

Thanks everyone for more input,

Mr R

You maybe right and it not a hand rail however don't automatically associate it with the house. when you find out what it is it will be water or handrail related. It look a lot like the ones used in parks public settings. Early highways had public drinking fountains and house watering troughs.

 

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[cheese]

Ok, picture this... there is a ball type device with a rod going through the "keyhole" with a seal at the other end that seals against the keyhole where it is machined smooth. As you lift the ball up in the cradle, it raises the rod which tilts the seal and allows water to escape from the keyhole. This would allow livestock to lick the valve and the action of the lick would raise the ball, breaking the seal so that water can trickle out at each lick/suckle. It would stop the flow as soon as the animal stopped the attempt to get water. I'll see if I can find an example of this online.

 

[lostcauses]

Ok, picture this... there is a ball type device with a rod going through the "keyhole" with a seal at the other end that seals against the keyhole where it is machined smooth. As you lift the ball up in the cradle, it raises the rod which tilts the seal and allows water to escape from the keyhole. This would allow livestock to lick the valve and the action of the lick would raise the ball, breaking the seal so that water can trickle out at each lick/suckle. It would stop the flow as soon as the animal stopped the attempt to get water. I'll see if I can find an example of this online.

Close to what I was thinking.

 

[traderoftreasures]

Ok, picture this... there is a ball type device with a rod going through the "keyhole" with a seal at the other end that seals against the keyhole where it is machined smooth. As you lift the ball up in the cradle, it raises the rod which tilts the seal and allows water to escape from the keyhole. This would allow livestock to lick the valve and the action of the lick would raise the ball, breaking the seal so that water can trickle out at each lick/suckle. It would stop the flow as soon as the animal stopped the attempt to get water. I'll see if I can find an example of this online.

Close to what I was thinking.

ihats what i thought too in my earlier..... post hog waterer

 

[Trocar]

This item is the water head to an old Drinking Fountian. Maybe off of a old hand pump type like on a farm. The keyhole design is the way a lot of fountains are.