Some kind of plug

[IowaRelic]

It’s either zinc or pewter. Has a leather seal at the bottom. Handle appears to have been beaten on pretty good. Found with some early flat buttons, an 8 Reale , and some other old bits.

 

[fyrffytr1]

The first thought that crossed my mind was a radiator drain plug or petcock for an old car.

 

[fwcrawford]

I have an item I found very similar to what the one you found.
I will post a photo of it later.
I think mine is made of lead... is that piece heavy?...looks like lead to me.

 

[fwcrawford]

Here is the one I found......
Hopefully someone can ID them for us.
I am thinking it is part of of a keg spout of some sort.

 

[Sanderling]

Agree with fyrffyter. Looks like a drain plug to me too. Threads allow it to open a little or a lot. The leather seal would make it water tight when fully closed. Just spit balling. Not sure of its exact function. An interesting old find Iowa.

 

[wildwilly]

Old boat drain plug?? Just a guess.

 

[fwcrawford]

Old boat drain plug?? Just a guess.

I actually did find mine around a lakeshore, but there was an old house site there.
After the lake was built , no one lived in the house after that.
Does kind of look like a plug for a boat.

 

[Ronstar]

Didnt the old hot water registers used to heat homes have a drain plug on them ?

 

[IowaRelic]

Appears to be zinc or pewter. Has that layered gray colors and flaking apart. I’m not a plumber or a marine guy but I’m thinking is more along the lines of a keg plug or perhaps a drain for a cistern. There are homes down here from pre war that have above ground rain collection from gutters. They were large wooden vats to hold the water. Perhaps they had a drain like this. The density and texture is very similar to a artillery fuse igniter I found a couple months back. I really am not sure what it is.

 

[fwcrawford]

Appears to be zinc or pewter. Has that layered gray colors and flaking apart. I’m not a plumber or a marine guy but I’m thinking is more along the lines of a keg plug or perhaps a drain for a cistern. There are homes down here from pre war that have above ground rain collection from gutters. They were large wooden vats to hold the water. Perhaps they had a drain like this. The density and texture is very similar to a artillery fuse igniter I found a couple months back. I really am not sure what it is.

I have no clue what they are either, but I think we can both agree both pieces are exactly the same.
I found mine about eight years ago... been wondering what is is since.
When I saw your post, I recognized it immediately.

 

[fwcrawford]

Didnt the old hot water registers used to heat homes have a drain plug on them ?

If you are referring to cast iron radiators, I’ve never seen these in any of them.
I’ve seen plenty of radiators though!

 

[IowaRelic]

I have no clue what they are either, but I think we can both agree both pieces are exactly the same.
I found mine about eight years ago... been wondering what is is since.
When I saw your post, I recognized it immediately.

Was yours found amongst other items from the early-mid 1800s?

 

[Ronstar]

. I helped move some out of an old house once and they had to drain them. They weren’t the steam type but the hot water style. One would have to get that water out somehow, correct???

 

[fwcrawford]

. I helped move some out of an old house once and they had to drain them. They weren’t the steam type but the hot water style. One would have to get that water out somehow, correct???

I never saw any that has drains on them.
They had a vent plug ear the top to remove air.
When we removed or repaired them, we would drain the water from a point lower than the radiator like a basement.
Or sometimes take the pipe fitting loose to drain.

 

[fwcrawford]

Was yours found amongst other items from the early-mid 1800s?

Yes.
There was a reservoir built around this house site in 1912.
I’m sure the house was not occupied after that.
I found items dating back to the Civil war around it, and one pre civil war button too.
All coins found were pre 1900.
This site is under water now, but I managed to get a few nice finds out before the water level was raised in the reservoir.
I thought the piece that I found was lead due to its weight, but may be wrong.

 

[Steve(Can)]

View attachment 13732
It’s either zinc or pewter. Has a leather seal at the bottom. Handle appears to have been beaten on pretty good. Found with some early flat buttons, an 8 Reale , and some other old bits.

Is there a screw hole in the bottom?

 

[IowaRelic]

No

 

[fwcrawford]

Is there a screw hole in the bottom?

No screw or screw hole on the bottom of mine either.
I think the leather washer is still on mine too after looking at the one Iowarelic found.
It appears there was a post and after the washer was placed on it, the post was mashed to keep the washer in place.

 

[fwcrawford]

Bottom view of mine.

 

[Steve(Can)]

Here is the one I found......
Hopefully someone can ID them for us.
I am thinking it is part of of a keg spout of some sort.
View attachment 13794

This is close:

From the link below:

ANTIQUE 19TH C. CAST PEWTER KEG BARREL SPIGOT​

Little cast pewter barrel or keg spigot - numbers and letters on shaft are too worn to read. 4" long. T shaped key handle unscrews out completely. A cork insert at its tip provided the on/off function. Mid 19th century.

Antique 19th C. Cast PEWTER Keg Barrel Spigot - Key Unscrews - SALESALE!!! | #516979123

Little cast pewter barrel or keg spigot - numbers and letters on shaft are too worn to read. 4 long. T shaped key handle unscrews out completely. A cork insert at its tip provided the on/off function

www.worthpoint.com