Posted 12 years ago
tara1305
(1 item)
I found this on my property in Colorado two days ago. The wind unearthed it....I have no idea what it is, it is four inches long and the top part is one inch across, the point is either damaged or used to tap something or hammer, etc and its thickness is only about 1/8 of an inch. It is hand forged as it is not evenly made, and pre industrial I am sure. Wish I knew what it was! No markings, no threading in the hole, nothing.
Do you remember coffee can keys?
They had a band around the can. the key was attatched on top of can, you broke off key, and bent back the starting tab, slipped the keyhole through starting tab and kept turning until the band was wound off. I am not sure if this is what this key is but in the 1960's they were just small metal keys. maybe this is an earlier version.
This is a concrete form pin, as you put together the sections these hold them together and slot is for a wedge.
Proper name is wall ties
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/327255301/concrete_formwork_accessories_wedge_bolt_pins.html
Key wind cans started in 1917 but the slot was always very low on the key as opposed to at the top as pictured. It was my first impression also except for the design. This one has a rectangular slot as well as a round hole.
I can't find it in my databases links as a wind key but it is certainly interesting.
If you look around some older homes, built it the 1960's-70's. you'll see around the foundations and walls, flat bar sticking out where the forms where. These flat bars held the inner and outter forms together and these pins slide in the slots of those bars. After the concrete cures, you drive these pins back out and strip off the forms.