What was this used for - "Very Old !" ?

[Poppa Sr]

Hello .... I'm a new member, and this will be the first post I have put on this site ........... I have been playing around with detecting many years (now am 72 yrs young) ... and I have an item I have been trying to identify for many years ...... I would appreciate any "opinions" on what it could possibly be ... with all the "relics" all these members have seen, I hope someone has seen one of these, and can solve the mystery. At some point in time, someone, somewhere, and for some "purpose" made this item, so far, no-one has been able to provide an answer. ............. It is very "magnetic", (see photo) ---- weighs about 2 pounds, has been drilled and tapped in both ends, and seems to be coated in a "cast iron sleeve", with a "lead" mixture, the sleeve "bends" before it breaks off .... in a nutshell ..... I had this old 100 + yr old house torn down, and found the item shown .... "under" the house about 8" in the ground ... the ground is so littered with iron, I haven't had much luck recovering many other interesting items, to give a possible "age" of the item, (but it was under a hundred plus year old house) .... just a few "shallow" wheat pennies, and a couple "buffalo" nickles .... thanks in advance for any possible opinions on it's original use/purpose.

 

[CTwoods]

Looks somewhat familiar to a guy in mid 60's ...but what is it?

I would tend to think it is 1/2 of a permanent magnetic device to recharge magnets inside magnetos for early in vintage ignition system....like a magneto for a pop-engine or very early car magneto

I know I can picture in my mind, the exact shape of what you have, but one more side to make it a hoop shape. The ones I recall were thicker on the base, like yours, and more slender up top at the hoop


Maybe look up "vintage/antique magnet" online?

 

[ctalmadg]

Old Magnetic door-stop?

 

[CTwoods]

I tried to remember where I saw that shape, but complete with two identical halves..

I am pretty sure it was something a co-worker had, and his hobby was pop engines and similar engine contraptions. it was heavy and rusty looking as I recall

I did a quick search, and can't find that tapered shape. I tried quite a few keywords, but not finding it

 

[Tony in SC]

Welcome to Tnet. Could be part of the "field" from a very early DC motor/generator. Two of these would be mounted on a base with a bar between them surrounding the armature? Magneto chargers don't have permanent magnets. Tony

 

[Poppa Sr]

Welcome to Tnet. Could be part of the "field" from a very early DC motor/generator. Two of these would be mounted on a base with a bar between them surrounding the armature? Magneto chargers don't have permanent magnets. Tony

Something along those lines is my guess also ....... it had to have been lost prior to the old house being built ..... which means to me, it was lost off of some type of farm machinery, then perhaps "plowed under" while working the fields by tractors/mules ........ but, I also looked using several key words, and haven't ran across anything close to it.

 

[RustyGold]

Very interesting object. I too feel like I've seen this before? Looks like something off a tractor? Thanks for the pics and welcome to TNet!

 

[kingskid1611]

Welcome to the party. I am hoping someone can identify it for you. Good Luck and Happy Hunting.