What is it?

7up2000 · Dec 12, 2014

I found this in an historic prison camp(dug with a metal detector). I know it's not valuable--just curious if anybody out there knew what it is. Thanks ahead of time.

bradyboy · Dec 12, 2014

Any guess on the material?
Brady

HAPPYCAMPER · Dec 12, 2014

Looks like remnant from something made on a metal lathe to me....would prison have had a machine shop?

TheDetectorist · Dec 13, 2014

It could have been some sort of stamp or brand. It looks like it is lead though.

cudamark · Dec 14, 2014

HAPPYCAMPER said:
Looks like remnant from something made on a metal lathe to me....would prison have had a machine shop?

Maybe someone was making a chess piece and it broke on the lathe.

rick67 · Dec 14, 2014

cudamark said:
Maybe someone was making a chess piece and it broke on the lathe.

It does sort of look like a (rook or pawn).

gldnbrew · Dec 16, 2014

cudamark said:
Maybe someone was making a chess piece and it broke on the lathe.

Looks to me as the waste end of a metal turning that was parted off, when the original piece was finished.

DCMatt · Dec 16, 2014

cudamark said:
Maybe someone was making a chess piece and it broke on the lathe.

Agree. It is sheered off pretty clean. I would expect lead to show more twisting on a break like that. Maybe white metal or pot metal?

Just curious... What was the prison, Gila River Internment camp? My mother-in-law spent several years there as a child.

DCMatt

7up2000 · Dec 16, 2014

bradyboy said:
Any guess on the material?
Brady

It's a lightweight metal. I don't think it's aluminum(keep in mind, I'm no expert). Wish I could provide more info, but the replies have been informative.

7up2000 · Dec 16, 2014

DCMatt said:
Agree. It is sheered off pretty clean. I would expect lead to show more twisting on a break like that. Maybe white metal or pot metal?

Just curious... What was the prison, Gila River Internment camp? My mother-in-law spent several years there as a child.

DCMatt

It wasn't found in the Gila River Internment. Prefer not to say at this time.

wecoyote · Dec 16, 2014

gldnbrew said:
Looks to me as the waste end of a metal turning that was parted off, when the original piece was finished.

Having been a machinist most of my life, I would agree.

Fletch88 · Dec 16, 2014

It's a "dummy" end that was cut off with a bandsaw after a shaft was made. The dummy end has a center drilled hole in it. The is done sometimes when all you have on hand is a large lathe center and you're trying to turn down to a small diameter (clearance issues) or if you don't want a center left in the end of the finished part for whatever reason.

Walt (Machinist of 28 years)