What The Heck Is This Thing???

is it magnetic? if you have a magnet see if it will stick to it. if you have some real fine steel wool (#000 steel wool won`t leave scratches) rub the object with it to see if it will shine.

It reminds me of a side shield from a JOY miner gathering pan. Any bolt holes if you scratch around on it?

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: CagliostroTheGreat

There is nothing sad about that CagliostroTheGreat.

Nothing at all. You want a lock part identifying, thats my bag. You want aircraft parts looked over, go see Zaphod. You want games and toys figured out? We come to you.

I'm going to screen shot this and save it so I can use it later

originally posted by: TrueBrit
Despite our best efforts, and most rigorous musings, we cannot figure out what this thing is for the life of us. And so, without further ado, I throw answering that question out to you, my fellow members.

Possible fishing net weight, or some other kind of sinker, made of lead?

The sacrificial Zinc anode works best allegorically..

my buddy once said he dropped a leaded keel into lake Grapevine at Dallas, from the family sailboat like a cal29...

sumthin like that.....

Well, it's old. And to me it looks hand chiseled. It's interesting.

a reply to: ThePeaceMaker

I found this on the beach, which is about three quarters of a mile from my front door.

This, I am almost sure now, will turn out to be some form of ballast or other. However, it remains to be seen what manner of vessel it originated from. When I located it, I was sure that it was nothing excessively dangerous, mostly because of its appearance not being similar to any munitions with which I am even passingly familiar.

My father used to work on the test ranges near here, so we used to go down on open day, and they would show us examples of old gear that had been tested at the facility in the old days, and any kit that was not classified basically. Got to ride in a tank, got to be present when self propelled guns were being fired, and so on.

So I have some familiarity with these matters. If it had been an unexploded bomb, I would have gotten on the Nopeboat immediately, gotten everyone off the beach, and called the police/coastguard. I also would have known what it was!

a reply to: Tardacus

Tardacus, this item is not magnetic in the least.

With regard to steel wool, there is literally no way that something could make this stuff shine without scratching it. All metal polishing leaves marks, its the size of the marks that matters

a reply to: Night Star

I thought so too!

I am eager to get it to the museum and ask them about it. Now that I know that it could well be leaden in nature though, I will double glove with vinyl, just to be certain to handle it carefully and with proper respect to the fact that technically, it is a hazardous substance.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Everybody probably knows this, but over time great ships were found at sea, containing skeletons. In trying to understand what killed all the people on board, because there was no evidence of bad weather, or pirates or anything, researchers discovered that the tins they had brought food in to make their long journey, were made of lead.

*Useless fact of the day.

a reply to: angeldoll

That is most certainly not a useless fact. That is, in fact, a very useful fact, that hopefully someone here will have stored away, who did not know it before. Thanks for the share!

a reply to: TrueBrit
Was it found anywhere near the old Metrovicks or similar engineering site?
Maybe a shed (as in spat out) steam turbine blade?
The shape looks aerodynamic like an old turbine blade or similar?

a reply to: CovertAgenda

It was found about two hundred yards from a coastguard communications station, twenty yards from the sea wall. No sheds, or anything other than beach huts for a considerable distance in either direction, east or west of the location.

I do not think this object is aero dynamic. The edges are not beveled at all!

leaded keel insert, my man!!

a reply to: TrueBrit

No idea what it is, but responding, and a star and flag, so the thread can garner more views and you can perhaps find an answer. Best guess, found close to a coast guard station, is that it's a piece of some ship or equipment. Any way to take it in there and ask around? Does the piece have any edge that looks like it might have broken off of a larger piece at some point? Shame you can't read the numbers; betting there is a clue in those. Not knowing the material, hard to say what to do to perhaps bring them out more clearly. The shape is intriguing, and seems familiar in some way, but no idea how, or why. Almost looks like a piece to fasten something, with the notches holding it in place. Just guess work, there.

I can tell you where to post this and get an answer but it will have to be via U2U since I got in trouble last time

a reply to: TrueBrit

No Sheds???

a reply to: angeldoll

I didn't know that, so it wasn't useless information. Thanks!

a reply to: TrueBrit
My next suggesting was going to be possibly something from the ranges but after reading yours and other peoples conclusions id go with some sort of ballast

My dad use to work on the Essex Police boats when he was in the police and had to go up the Thames a few times to cordon off and area so the MoD could detonate the odd left over WW2 mines/bombs apparently all they do is make the explosive safe to deal with then attach some of their own explosives, light a fuse and as my dad said y what a MoD person asked him to do when he was at the helm of a police boat was 'fuse is lit just drive that way! and quickly' lol

It's always fun combing the beaches as like you, you never know what you can find