What could this be?

[Southborn]

Hi,
I found this bronce item last year at a privat backyard in South America.
It looks very old - any idea about it?

 

[norman maassey]

Part of a coke bottle opener

 

[Southborn]

It was hand made.
Actually I tested it - as for a bottle opener it seems to be
much too small...

 

[norman maassey]

After looking at it again it does look a little small. I was talking about the older coke an beer bottles before screw on lids. They were used longer south of the Rio Grande and still used in Mexico.

 

[Southborn]

After looking at it again it does look a little small. I was talking about the older coke an beer bottles before screw on lids. They were used longer south of the Rio Grande and still used in Mexico.

I know what you mean,
but as far as I remember all of the crown caps openers were modern factory made (most US origin)
from the 1900's onwards.
Nobody would do such an item by hand,at least not these ones.
In order to give a more accurate idea, other items from the 19th century were found in the same backyard.
This 1860's Inkwell was found there in the 1960's by our family along with a 1870's italian coin , a part
of an pocket gold watch and iron horse shoes....

 

[jccast11]

Looks to me like a broken key

 

[Southborn]

Although it doesn't fix as it should,
I am considering the possibility of this item to be one of the very first crown corks openers.
Doing some research I found that the first ones dated from 1898 :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_cork
Only in that way it could be related to the other 19th century finds....

But in my opinion it is a piece from an old wooden trunk or some door hinges.
Note on its back side it is broken and there are traces of been hit by some sharp tool.
This item must have been a larger one !
These are some of the items that will possibly never find any accurate ID - Hmmmmmm

 

[kd7aik]

nice teakettel ink

 

[norman maassey]

That ink bottle has been around a while.

 

[Uncle Willy]

n/t