found in an old mining camp

[BobOso]

anyone have an idea as to what this might be? Miners would use auto parts to make equipment, but this would be on the small size to be an automotive part. it of course was flattened out when found, I bent it back into shape.

 

[markinmichigan]

Seems to me that it could be a number of things.....hood or cover for a riding mower or yard equipment. How deep was it and what was the VDI?

Mark in Michigan

 

[DuboistownDan]

Lunch pail?

 

[hoser]

Well it definitely machine made, looks to have sever duty mounting brackets, and it had a latch lid. 10" long, approx. 5" high, and looks to be about 4" deep. Too small for a battery box. My guess, it was mounted to a mine cart/truck as a control cover or storage box. Cool find.

 

[TheFrood]

Looks like the front cover of a piece of equipment... engine cover or something that hand a mount on top of it for something else.
Do you have any idea what years the mining camp was active?

 

[BobOso]

Seems to me that it could be a number of things.....hood or cover for a riding mower or yard equipment. How deep was it and what was the VDI?

Mark in Michigan

I doubt if it was a riding mower, 1800's site, lots of mountains, no grass (desert) Eyeball find

 

[BobOso]

Looks like the front cover of a piece of equipment... engine cover or something that hand a mount on top of it for something else.
Do you have any idea what years the mining camp was active?

late 1800's to 1933, definitely a cover to something, trying to figure out what it went to. It was flattened out when found, been to this site 3 or 4 times over the years, very hard to get to.

 

[MTJosh]

with the shape could be outside of ore haul bucket on conveyer line out of mine shaft or some other sytem. Some were wood with metal frames like this on outside.

 

[TheFrood]

The more I look at the picture the less I think it's part of the original mine. The manufacturing on it looks way too modern with
too little wear (unless it's far more corroded than it looks) even for sitting in the desert for 100 years... Also, could we be looking at it upside down perhaps?

Keep in mind that the most common metalworkers at the time were blacksmiths and parts standardization only started to become
really widespread beginning in the 1800's... Blacksmithing didn't really become totally obsolete until mid-1900's and professional
machinist was a relatively new profession in the early 1900's.

 

[noluckl]

The latches on either end are common to old running board boxes for sure. I lean toward a tool box or battery box mounted to truck or tractor or some sort of equipment.

 

[BobOso]

The more I look at the picture the less I think it's part of the original mine. The manufacturing on it looks way too modern with
too little wear (unless it's far more corroded than it looks) even for sitting in the desert for 100 years... Also, could we be looking at it upside down perhaps?

Keep in mind that the most common metalworkers at the time were blacksmiths and parts standardization only started to become
really widespread beginning in the 1800's... Blacksmithing didn't really become totally obsolete until mid-1900's and professional
machinist was a relatively new profession in the early 1900's.

I should have measured the gauge. But if I had to guess it is a 16-17 gauge metal, which would be in line with the automotive industry in the early 1900's. Which would also allow it to last longer than the tin cans that can be found in the area. There is an old lantern on a fence post, I've left it there, where it has hung for years, perhaps it still lights its way for the owner, it also is intact. I would have to find the photos, but I have found several old Autos in the desert, close to this area.

 

[noluckl]

Woah! check this out. Thoughts?

 

[noluckl]

Nother one.
Any Model T experts out there to confirm?

 

[noluckl]

Or this guy calls it Model A coil box.

 

[BobOso]

Or this guy calls it Model A coil box.

I think you nailed it. Thank you, I would not have guessed a coil box.

 

[TheFrood]

Good find! Looks like that model-A coil box with the 3 bumps/mounting points from the one for the Model-T