Wierd thing from the Ocean, need help with ID, maybe from shipwreck

[smokeythecat]

Was on the Delaware Coast today, before it started raining. Found some nice sea glass and this whatzit. Non-ferrous metal with what looks like a "ring" gold on it. It is about 2 1/2" x 2", about 3/8" thick. Lots of sea sand permanently glued to it. I thought maybe a collapsed pocket watch. Maybe some other kind of mechanism. In the middle is a recessed circle, and on the other side is a little metal stud sticking out about 1/8" The "gold" ring is about 3/8" across and is irregular. Gold color shows on both sides. It scratches very easily with a standard steel straight pin. Ideas? It is not very heavy, but could be hollow (or used to be hollow).

 

[Ron (CA)]

Very interesting- Looks gold!!

Let us know what you do-- crack it open or leave as is. personally I have no will power to leave as is and would break it out!!

 

[smokeythecat]

I really don't think the "gold" thingie is brass. It was over a foot deep in salt water sand lower than the high tide mark. The silver-ish metal is fairly light weight. May have to get it tested to find out for sure but there goes another $50.00.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Antikythera mechanism?

 

[smokeythecat]

Interior to fishing reel? Or Alien mothership gyroscope core?

 

[Loco-Digger]

That's a cool piece no matter if it's gold or not.

 

[smokeythecat]

I may have to take a BIG hammer to it. It is definitely a mechanism of some sort.

 

[Rich jaws]

My money is on a fishing reel end. Bearing in the center and the gold looking thing is copper used for the ratchet mechanism. Looks like it was in a fire and melted.

 

[bigfoot1]

Im on board with conventional reel end cap

 

[Hitndahed]

Hard to tell for sure, but if you look close immediately above and a hair right of the "ring".
There is an obvious "round" thing too.
Get the Dremel out and etch off the junk and see what's in there amigo.
My bet is that it is a concretion of several old items, how old and what they are?
Ya won't know till you carefully peel the layers away.
I would NOT just smash it with a hammer though.
But it's your find.

 

[celtic fox]

hard to know what it is

 

[smokeythecat]

I'll dig out the dremel. I think it started out as a part of fishing reel (old spool kind), but now there's more stuff attached to it.

 

[Moonshadow]

That's a cool piece no matter if it's gold or not.

I agree totally! It's definitely a great conversation piece....on the fence on whether to break it open or not.

HH,
Moon