2 items for your entertainment

[bunker314]

Hi All,
Two interesting finds tonight.
First may be a lock part of some kind? Something is designed to be funneled into the "V". No writing, very heavy metal. Found where I found some old auto parts at a site of a log cabin from the late 1800's in Alabama.
Second, I believe is made of copper and looks like a paper muffin mold although larger. Again, no writing that I can find. Found in St. Pete.
Not much to go on but I appreciate any help you may be able to provide.
Have fun and HH,

 

[GoGoGopher]

First item...I have not a clue. Guess on second item...Cupcake tin?

 

[bunker314]

Hey GGG, that was my first thought but they (found 2) are about 5 in. across at the top. but you never know. The first piece was a shot in the dark but it really got me curious.
Thanks for your input and HH,

 

[srf2112]

Hey Bunker. I think you're pretty close on your guess about the iron piece. It looks like a heavy-duty lock hasp of some kind.
HH
Scott

 

[bunker314]

Hi Scott,
Thanks, That piece really has me combing the internet. Someone will see it and there will be an ah-ha moment.
HH

 

[taz42o]

The lock part is the dead bolt from an old mortise door lock.

 

[bunker314]

Thanks Taz42o, I knew someone would step up and recognize this. I did a google search on mortise door locks but couldn't find one that matched. I will keep looking, do you have an example somewhere?
Thanks again, will be out of the country for a couple of days so it may take a while for me to respond.

 

[srf2112]

I was thinking the same thing as Taz but I don't recognize it. I've been a Union commercial Door and Hardware installer for over 20 years and do not recognize it from any hardware that I have seen. That's not to say Taz is mistaken, it very well may be older than anything I've come across although I have serviced mortise locks dating back to the late 19th century. Good luck and let us know if you discover anything new. That ones driving me crazy.
HH
Scott

 

[bunker314]

Thanks Scott for your expertise. I agree this one is maddening. Still doing some research. Will post if I come up with anything new.

 

[srf2112]

Just want to clarify that Taz's guess is very good and it definitely looks like it may very well be an internal mechanism from a mortise lock. I just don't recognize it.
HH
Scott

 

[Buddysox]

Hi, Bunker, I know what your larger piece of ribbed metal is, found one just like it at a 1912 house. Had to dig down a foot for it after getting a monster signal. Its one half of an old toilet float! The metal would be stamped out of a sheet of tin usually and ribbed for strength. Two halves were then joined together to form a round ball. Very common in the early part of this century before the use of rubber and plastic.

 

[bunker314]

Hey John,
Thanks for the info. I think you nailed it. Makes a lot of sense. I knew they were just too big to be muffin tins. Found both of them within feet of each other. They were down about a foot as well.
One down, one to go.
HH