What is this little relic?

[thrillathahunt]

I found this at an old home site. It is the size of a quarter. Probably made of zinc? It has a little hook in the middle and glass (broken).

 

[jdsarasin8194]

Definately an old bottle cap, the braking on the inside it the old hardend rubber/plastic insert

 

[AU24K]

My first thought was a cap of some sort, and an OLD one at that!
Maybe for alcoholic spirits. BOO! LOL!

The inside is probably not plastic...maybe some sort of organic sealing medium. I'm guessing some sort of gelatin based insert...
Was it found in a dry location?

Scott

PS. Maybe it is the lid for the reservoir fill of a kerosene lamp?

 

[BW]

My guess would be a small compass or a small pocket sundial.... JMHO

Bill G.

 

[jdsarasin8194]

Just look at the knotches around the rim on the 1st pic and the lip around the rim on the 2nd pic, its a bottle cap of some type.

 

[Breezie]

I don't think it's a bottle cap. Could it be one of those old 'get the balls in the hole' games? The older ones were metal with a glass face. The way the glass is cracked looks like it was flat across the piece, not vertical like a soda bottle. Bill's thought on a compass it a good bet too. Breezie

 

[DoubleUgly]

Looks almost like a novelty pin a la Badge-a-minit. How long have they had those pins around?

 

[jdsarasin8194]

I don't think it's a bottle cap. Could it be one of those old 'get the balls in the hole' games? The older ones were metal with a glass face. The way the glass is cracked looks like it was flat across the piece, not vertical like a soda bottle. Bill's thought on a compass it a good bet too. Breezie

I don't think that it's even glass... Sure it can be sharp and brittle but thats what happens to even plastic that old

 

[intimer]

maybe a chair leg bottom. they had a nail in the center. seems like old school chairs were similar

 

[thrillathahunt]

It is definitely not plastic...it has that old "rainbow glass" look. What really throws me though is that little tiny hook in the middle......and it's made of a harder metal, like tin.

 

[IronSpike]

Maybe a cap from a kerosene lantern? A small chain was affixed to the cap so it wouldn't get lost when adding kerosene.

http://www.shopbulgaria.com/other-3...e-german-kerosene-storm-lantern-frowo-65.html

 

[thrillathahunt]

That's a possibility.

 

[thrillathahunt]

The edge has slits on both sides, but not all the way around

 

[Breezie]

It is definitely not plastic...it has that old "rainbow glass" look. What really throws me though is that little tiny hook in the middle......and it's made of a harder metal, like tin.

This supports my theory of the 'skill ball game' (old Cracker Jack toy?) because some had post in the middle. It also supports Bill's theory of a compass. Could the hook have been a 'straight post,' and since it got mashed, it now looks like a hook? Can you post a better pic of the hook; maybe taken at a side angle? Breezie

 

[thrillathahunt]

I am afraid this is going to be the best close up I can get. The hook looks like it could have been straight originally.

 

[Breezie]

I am afraid this is going to be the best close up I can get. The hook looks like it could have been straight originally.

If the hook looks like it could have been straight originally, would it have extended beyond the glass? If you shoot the pic using a magnifying glass, it will be clearer.

After looking at this close-up, I'm thinking it 'could' be a vintage glass backed button. Breezie

 

[randazzo1]

It may be a mourning piece. If so, the back may not supposed to have been seen by anyone but the person wearing it. I think they put little bits of hair (from a deceased loved one) behind the glass and carried or wore it as a tribute/memorial. I have a pin like this somewhere.

 

[randazzo1]

Here's a picture from google images:

 

[intimer]

maybe some kind of small candle stand? or not?

 

[thrillathahunt]