Spool?

[Joe.]

Hello,
Does anyone recognise this artefact? I have two more examples. All three have been found in the UK, on sites associated with the post Medieval period, alot of buttons and quite a few thimbles have also been found in the same areas. I'm wondering if it might be a spool, or a wheel from a belt driven sewing or weaving machine? 50mm Dia.

Thanks.

 

[ThatCannonballGuy]

All I can tell you for certain is that we dig them over here in the USA. The ones I've dug were in late-1800s/early-20th-century house-sites' trashy yards. I've dug none of them in farm-fields or forests.

Personally, I think your guess that it's a wheel from a belt-driven mechanical device is a good one. It reminds me of the "pulley-wheels" on my car engine's belt-driven generator and cooling-fan (though of course your item is much smaller). Mechanical-Engineers say "Form follows Function." For example, if an item has a perfectly-circular hole in it, you can be certain that the hole has a PURPOSE related to the item's function. With that in mind, note the little ridges on both of the interior sides of this wheel's V-shaped slot. The only purpose I can think of for them being inside the slot is to help "grip" a cord or belt that fit into the groove.

Hopefully somebody here will know what the item specifically is, and what sort of mechanical device it was a part of.

Regards,
TheCannonballGuy [PCGeorge]

 

[fieldboy]

If it is button size it was a covered buttom