Can anyone identify this item?

[dstig1]

I made something similar as a cap for pounding in 2x4 stakes, so it could be that. A friend advised me to make it. He was wrong. The first hit had me running for earmuffs... :shocked: You just find it isn't that hard to pound in a 2x4 stake by itself after screwing around with the cap a bit. And it is harder to get the stake to stay put with a few pounds of steel on the top of a yet to be pounded stake...

 

[BHD]

I do not think it is a pounding cap as the weight of it close to 30 pounds and that would take to much energy to put it in to motion to drive what ever it was setting on, IMO,
yes I can see how one could think it could be a driving cap, but being cast I think it would break quickly with heavy enough blows to drive any thing, (it is a possibility it is cast steel but I think it is iron).

At least if I was making a driving cap, I would not make it so heavy and most likely the sides no more than 1/4" steel and the top msot likely 12" steel
not a top of up to 1" thick and with a rim band of over 1" thick and side about 5/8" thick

 

[Wagtail]

BHD, what type of door did/does the 'old workshop' had/have?

I still reckon that it was part of a counter-weight system.

 

[BHD]

the old shop only had swinging doors on hinges, no roll up or any thing fancy, just old shed type doors, each were about 4.5 foot wide,
some thing like this, http://cdn5.slimnewedit.com/ideas/t...-hinges-would-enable-text-photos-36140060.jpg
and on a second door one section there was a rail with three 2 foot doors that were bifold in working, no roll up, no counter weights systems,
some thing like this, https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/99/11/8c/99118caa98933111281799ccba72883f.jpg
and it may have been a counter weight system, on some thing, but I ahve never see any thing like any where else,

 

[jabelding]

Does the hole have any draft or taper to it. If it does I would say it is some type of casting mold.

 

[Wagtail]

the old shop only had swinging doors on hinges, no roll up or any thing fancy, just old shed type doors, each were about 4.5 foot wide,
some thing like this, http://cdn5.slimnewedit.com/ideas/t...-hinges-would-enable-text-photos-36140060.jpg
and on a second door one section there was a rail with three 2 foot doors that were bifold in working, no roll up, no counter weights systems,
some thing like this, https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/99/11/8c/99118caa98933111281799ccba72883f.jpg
and it may have been a counter weight system, on some thing, but I ahve never see any thing like any where else,

Ta for that, Mate. Other than being used as a door-stop, which isn't its original purpose, I don't think it's a counter-weight.

Which brings me back to a tractor or implement weight... something used before 'suitcase' weights became standard.

 

[Ken]

BHD Notice your from Eastern Colo. Possibly item is from lower plate of Quartz Rock stamp mill to pulverize rock to prepare for gold processing.
Several were used depending on the size of operation.
any one have pictures of ore mill in operation Thump Thump
ken

 

[BHD]

BHD Notice your from Eastern Colo. Possibly item is from lower plate of Quartz Rock stamp mill to pulverize rock to prepare for gold processing.
Several were used depending on the size of operation.
any one have pictures of ore mill in operation Thump Thump
ken

not saying it is not some form or kind of mill, but no gold mining /silver mining around here, (but my uncle had some friends that were in to some gold mining in new Mexico), and originally the building was build by my uncle to live in and for a shop, and when he moved to a farm south of here, the building was moved up to the farm here, (so that could be a remote possibility).

but it could be but kind of a long round about way of coming here if that is the case,

 

[BigRol]

If I was a guessing man I'd say its a counter weight from an old live stock scale, the inset in the bottom set on a slide that was moved outward from the item being weighed tilk the cow, pig whatever lifted, much like a teeter totter.

 

[BHD]

If I was a guessing man I'd say its a counter weight from an old live stock scale, the inset in the bottom set on a slide that was moved outward from the item being weighed tilk the cow, pig whatever lifted, much like a teeter totter.

a possibility,