✅ SOLVED Wheel or adjustment knob????

villagenut · Nov 4, 2014

This round brass artifact was recovered near where the Union destroyed a community mill with pickaxes near the end of the CW. At first I thought this to be a wheel or steering mechanism for a cart or carriage but the mfg looks rather crude where holes are punched and there is no wear at all on the outer rim. A star, the number 610 and the number 3 are the only marks. It looks as if someone struck it pretty hard with a sharp object many many years ago, attested to how the ground action has wore on the bent disfigurement(Hope that makes sense). Could this be a knob or adjustment wheel for some part of the mill saw blade or something else? It was found near the petcock valve that I recently posted. Thanks for looking ....vn

Southern Brass · Nov 5, 2014

Sorta looks like part of an air conditioner compressor clucth on a car / truck :dontknow:

Tony in SC · Nov 5, 2014

Looks like a face Plate/ bell, from an old electric motor. Tony

digging wv · Nov 5, 2014

You might have the outer index ring of an old safe combination lock. The point of the upside down star would be the index you dial to. The star may lead you to which lock company made it with a little research. That's my guess anyway. :laughing7:

Ant · Nov 5, 2014

Looks like part of a pully to me.

digging wv · Nov 5, 2014

After a bit of digging, YORK locks used an upside down star for an index. Yours looks like someone tried to just "pop the lock" off the front of a safe. I'm sure that frustrated them. :BangHead:

ARC · Nov 5, 2014

safe maybe buried nearby...

digging wv · Nov 5, 2014

I'd check out that area real hard. You might find the dial itself, or better yet, what it came off of.

mouseman60 · Nov 5, 2014

I agree with ant on this one. it looks like one side of a Pully ,and the three holes is where the two sides bolt together. The side picture is what makes me think it's a Pully. I'm going with a Pully today.

digging wv · Nov 5, 2014

I may have a different perspective on this one. I worked as an area maintenance tech for the U.S. Postal Service. Part of my job was servicing safes and doing combination changes. I've even had to "crack" one from time to time. The ring is screwed onto the safe, flat side against it. The dial sits inside that ring and extends through the door into the lock. The holes are often oversized to give a little flexibility to ensure every lines up between the dial on the outside and the lock on the inside. The star on yours lines up for a twelve o'clock position on the safe. The "dent" on yours is slightly offset, my guess is it was struck there in an attempt to defeat the lock. The overall damage looks as if they did get something under the edge of the ring and pryed it off. And as Forest Gump would say..."That's all I got to say 'bout that" :hello:

villagenut · Nov 6, 2014

digging wv said:
I may have a different perspective on this one. I worked as an area maintenance tech for the U.S. Postal Service. Part of my job was servicing safes and doing combination changes. I've even had to "crack" one from time to time. The ring is screwed onto the safe, flat side against it. The dial sits inside that ring and extends through the door into the lock. The holes are often oversized to give a little flexibility to ensure every lines up between the dial on the outside and the lock on the inside. The star on yours lines up for a twelve o'clock position on the safe. The "dent" on yours is slightly offset, my guess is it was struck there in an attempt to defeat the lock. The overall damage looks as if they did get something under the edge of the ring and pryed it off. And as Forest Gump would say..."That's all I got to say 'bout that"

Thanks digging wv, I think you nailed it. The upside down star and the raised border around the perimeter is a perfect match. Makes for a neat story too knowing that someone attempted to get into it.The property has a rich local history so I knew who lived there during the time this was discarded which makes it just as good as a mill part. I have contacted a "safe expert" to help determine the age, waiting for a reply.Seems that a lot of companys used the star as a index point. Here is another one I found on line. Again a hearty thanks to you and everyone else who gave their thoughts, right or wrong. :icon_thumright: