🔎 UNIDENTIFIED What was the purpose for this iron artifact?

[invent4hir]

The iron artifact pictured below was found near where a frame home had been built in the 1830s-40s. It is possible that an early 1800s cabin stood nearby. Today there are just mounds of back fill left over from when the frame home was re-located in 1996. Other artifacts found range in age from a 3-tine fork (circa 1800s), possibly part of a mortise lock, a kerosene lamp burner patented on April 30, 1883, and 3 wheat pennies (1940 oldest) to name a few 1940.

This iron artifact is a real puzzler to me and everyone I’ve shown it to. I thought it could be part of a stove, buggy step, or a tricycle seat – but doubtful. In fact, I'm not even sure which side view is right side up - so show both. What do you think its purpose and age are?

 

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[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

That was planted years ago by a crafty Ne'er-do-well to confuzzle peeps in the future. You stepped right into his plan

 

[invent4hir]

That was planted years ago by a crafty Ne'er-do-well to confuzzle peeps in the future. You stepped right into his plan

Unless you can ID his plan worked on both of us!

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

Almost looks like a buggy step.

 

[The Rebel]

Part of a stove ash pan cover

 

[invent4hir]

Almost looks like a buggy step.

Ohiogoldfever, that was one of my guesses. I'll keep looking at those and maybe find a match. BTW, do you pan for gold in Ohio? Some had been found nears Owensville in Clermont County. My dad and I panned for a day back in the 70s and found a few flakes in the black sand.

 

[invent4hir]

Part of a stove ash pan cover

The Rebel, thanks for the tip.

 

[Sandog]

Swing away cover for applying a match, or some type of ignition, to a very old stove or furnace. Just a guess.

 

[Peyton Manning]

Stove flue

 

[Sandog]

Wouldn't a stove flu be circular, with a pivot pin to adjust the opening?

 

[invent4hir]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I've been looking at them the past few days and not finding anything close yet. Will let this stew for awhile and re-attack later in the season.

 

[Peyton Manning]

Wouldn't a stove flu be circular, with a pivot pin to adjust the opening?

I’m no expert. It came to mind because it is designed to be adjusted, as if the handle would fit in a series of notches.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Can we see the backside?

 

[FloodcityTom]

My best SWAG would be some sort of fixed hinge. the sharp point driven into a post. the opposing door would have some sort of tab to fit thru that eyelet on the end to perhaps secure it shut. looks smithy forged, very cool find

 

[invent4hir]

I’m no expert. It came to mind because it is designed to be adjusted, as if the handle would fit in a series of notches.

I think what Sandog is describing is a damper. The reason I'm shying away from a cast iron stove component, is that the pieces of those I found in the past have been thick. The piece of metal on this artifact that has partially rusted away is about the thickness of sheet metal on a car.

 

[Sandog]

My best SWAG would be some sort of fixed hinge. the sharp point driven into a post. the opposing door would have some sort of tab to fit thru that eyelet on the end to perhaps secure it shut. looks smithy forged, very cool find

Good idea. Maybe half of a gate or door latch. The loop could be for a finger pull.

 

[invent4hir]

Here is a pic of the bottom. The badly rusted thin metal plate is held in by some tabs along the edges.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Perhaps it used to slide in and out and could be replaced by another, like a label, door plate, name