Need Some Help - What Is It?

[Digger Don]

I was hunting a house today that was built in 1878. I dug this ball at about 9".
It's approx. the same dia. as a penny. It's heavy and green.
It may be nothing more than an old ball bearing. I have no idea.
DO YOU?? :thinkingabout:

 

[MangoAve]

The casting line in pic 3 makes me think it was a crude casting of these balls, like the first time they were produced. The flat spot and green patina I am certain it's made of brass. The ball for a ball valve would have holes in it. Grapeshot wouldn't have been 3/4" diameter, and those were usually lead or iron. Today we have better casting and milling processes but I did find brass 260 balls with the exact same diameter as a penny at 0.75".
http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=20420&step=4&showunits=inches&id=1419&top_cat=0

 

[Tony Two-Cent]

I agree with MangoAve's observations. It isn't round enough to be a ball bearing, and brass probably wouldn' t be strong enough.

I wonder if it is the ball out of a large crotal bell?

 

[Full Metal Digger]

Guys, it's the ball out of a henway! :shocked04:

 

[Digger Don]

Guys, it's the ball out of a henway! :shocked04:

Now that you mentioned it, I think your right

 

[Lodge Scent]

Yep, henway for sure.

 

[Pastpursuits]

I don't think its that heavy...nice try

 

[Digger Don]

I don't think its that heavy...nice try

Actually, I looked it up in the henway catalog. The weights about right.

 

[del]

the flat wear marks are a clue , Don is there just one flat spot on the ball or is there more then one , are they on opposite sides or not .

 

[Digger Don]

the flat wear marks are a clue , Don is there just one flat spot on the ball or is there more then one , are they on opposite sides or not .

There are maybe four total. the one shown is at least twice the size of the others. Not exactly opposite sides, but close.