Don't know but has a name

[bruce01364]

Some guesses from friends were a saxaphone reed to an automobile horn??? It is a little over 2 inches long and the round end is about 3/8 in diameter. Not sure what the metal is but guessing brass or copper. The name on the top is "RUBES" Did a google search and there were hundreds of hits and almost as many definitions. It was found in an 1800's era site.

 

[Steve(Can)]

In 1909, RUBES filed a patent (#49964) Automobile Horn Ornamentation, and again in 1911 (Patent #25422)
[attachment 86844 rubes.jpg]

These horns were used on the Model-T Ford, motorcycles, etc...

An original Rubes horn restored by a Model T collector:

The reeds from these horns look like this (this one threaded, a reproduction produced in Pakistan):
[attachment 86845 bulr.jpg]

 

[bruce01364]

n/t

 

[Hugh Pharted]

nice find

 

[Thumper III]

Was it found near water? It also looks somewhat like the reed from an old mouth-blown foghorn. Original would have had a tinned sheet steel megaphone abt 14 inches long and 4-5 in. dia at open end and a wooden handle/mouthpiece that held the reed.