Whatzit Forum

No idea what this is..brass and heavy,theres a screw that goes in one end..and on end of screw that inserted in,theres another screw possibly for attaching a wire for some reason,opposite that on thin long end,on inside about 1/2 in there are threads for something else...is hollow all through,roughly 2 3/4 inches long and 1 1/8 thickest on width....found in area of possibly mid to late 1800s houses...houses no longer there.Screw goes in opposite the thin end.

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Per, users request 07/01/12

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Piece off a touch lamp???

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Deactivated at users request 08/26/12

Looked at some touch lamp parts online..nothing fits that...dont believe from same age as touch lamps invented in 1980s i believe..no other thoughts on my end.

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Per, users request 07/01/12

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Funny...even huntin buddy dont have a clue...think Larry(IL) hit your whatzit dead on though Bruce..

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Per, users request 07/01/12

Looks like a wire "fuse" of some kind - wire attached to each end, insulated by the air around it, even though the housing is metal. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but it's a possibility. It does look "industrial grade" though. The fact that a wire seems to have run through the middle of the thing is the only reason I'm even thinking in that direction. Even in the 1800's they knew that glass was the best insulator.

Unless it's a "glow plug" for diesel engine of some kind.

The screw inside looks electrical in nature...to hold a ground wire perhaps???

HH,

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Deactivated at users request 08/26/12

If ya can't find an answer here, go to Treasurenet.com and enter it in their "what is it" forum......NGE

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Exposure to the Son, Prevents burning......

My guess, an engine part or a machine part.

Back in those days they did make things robust but only if it served the purpose. It might have held an anode in the water jacket of an old engine.

That is my impression, I truely don't know but I have seen some older engines and engine pieces and they made oilers and other pieces quite massive compared to what is made today which seems engineered to either break or fall apart in 5 years. Like plastic radiators in trucks. They liked heavy metal in those days.

I have found various items in brass and most seem quite heavy.

HH 1859

Could it be part to an old outdoor gas lamp? Maybe the small screw it to attach a ground wire to prevent an arc and subsequent explosion.

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E-trac, Ace 250, Vibra-Probe 560 and a bunch of diggin' tools