Mystery brass item

[BTV Digger]

Had just a couple hours to hit a late 1800s/early 1900s cellar hole nearby today and only pulled a few keepers (2 older wheaties and a buckle). Also found this strange mystery brass item. Hollow with the larger threaded hole, I'm assuming on bottom with the letter M on the side (or W if that side is the top!). Also has grooved sides. I'm scratching my head on this one. Some sort of part to a pulley system? I dunno. Thanks for any guesses.

John

 

[clad mike]

looks like the inner part of a gate valve for water

 

[del]

That one is sure a stumper John !

 

[BTV Digger]

That one is sure a stumper John !

Thanks Dan. I had my wife look at it, and she thinks it may have belonged to the end of an old clothesline mechanism. The threaded side indicates it was held static in place, but after looking at it more I can't see how that would be either. :thinkingabout: Oh well...into my weird and wonderful box of oddities it goes!

John

 

[fyrffytr1]

I agree with clad mikes ID. It is similar to the one in this picture.