Trying to identify a weird metal object found on a beach

[DaveC426913]

I have one of those just like the 1 in the picture. But mine's much larger and it is magnetic.

The OP misspoke. He called it 'magnetic', but he said 'a magnet sticks to it'.
So, what he meant was that it is ferromagnetic.

Presumably, this is what you mean too?

Pics? Location of find?

 

[numismaticneighbor]

 

[sophiecentaur]

View attachment 352854

Looks like one of my early welding efforts.

 

[Baluncore]

It could be a chemical deposition feature, that forms slowly on a piece of steel that was buried in the mud. Without environmental context, it is difficult to tell. I need the position of the find, as a latitude and longitude on Google Earth.

 

[DaveC426913]

I need the position of the find, as a latitude and longitude on Google Earth.

And please be precise!

 

[hbs10]

Hi apologies for intruding on your chat but I have been looking online as I have found an item on a beach /metal and wood) but haven't a clue what it is? How do I attach the picture on here?

 

[hutchphd]

Hi apologies for intruding on your chat but I have been looking online as I have found an item on a beach /metal and wood) but haven't a clue what it is? How do I attach the picture on here?

There is an icon in the reply menu or use CTRL+P on keyboard and follw prompts

 

[hbs10]

I figured it out, any advice welcome. Thankyou.

 

[Baluncore]

@hbs10
Welcome to PF.

That looks like part of a farm implement or cart from circa 1920.

The bolt-holes appear to be a casting, but the curved T-section would have been wrought iron. That suggests the iron part was fabricated, with welds near the casting. The two mild steel coach bolts have rusted away, faster than the wrought or cast iron material.

It might help if you could identify the Google Earth coordinates of the find.

 

[sophiecentaur]

How do I attach the picture on here?

I just use drag and drop from the original to where you want it in your text on my macbook pro. But then, Apple has always made life easy.

 

[hbs10]

@hbs10
Welcome to PF.

That looks like part of a farm implement or cart from circa 1920.

The bolt-holes appear to be a casting, but the curved T-section would have been wrought iron. That suggests the iron part was fabricated, with welds near the casting. The two mild steel coach bolts have rusted away, faster than the wrought or cast iron material.

It might help if you could identify the Google Earth coordinates of the find.

Hi and thankyou so much for replying that's fascinating.

I've only just worked out how to access this forum again, apologies for the delay.

It was in Tenby, wales, uk
51°40'14"N 4°41'46"W. Coordinates may be slightly different but it was near the rock pools. I didn't know the family member had found it until we were back in Birmingham.

 

[Baluncore]

I was hoping to identify the item from the local agricultural history of the location, but for Tenby, that would be tourism. Maybe it was a structural part of an old donkey cart.

I expect some implement, built a century ago, was left up on the cliffs, in the bushes above the beach, and that it disintegrated, or was cut up, and fell down onto the beach.

I don't think it is part of a set of steps, or a handrail that gave access to the beach, and can't see how it could be part of barbed wire beach defences from WW2.

Take a look at the ends of the 'T' section. Was it cut with a hacksaw?
Were the 'T' sections bent during manufacture, or when the structure was demolished?

 

[hbs10]

I was hoping to identify the item from the local agricultural history of the location, but for Tenby, that would be tourism. Maybe it was a structural part of an old donkey cart.

I expect some implement, built a century ago, was left up on the cliffs, in the bushes above the beach, and that it disintegrated, or was cut up, and fell down onto the beach.

I don't think it is part of a set of steps, or a handrail that gave access to the beach, and can't see how it could be part of barbed wire beach defences from WW2.

Take a look at the ends of the 'T' section. Was it cut with a hacksaw?
Were the 'T' sections bent during manufacture, or when the structure was demolished?

Thankyou so much for the information. It has helped me find some experts on farm/agricultural experts on the time period stated so maybe they'll know. I really appreciate your help.

 

[hbs10]

I just use drag and drop from the original to where you want it in your text on my macbook pro. But then, Apple has always made life easy.

Thankyou I managed to get the coordinates, much appreciated.

 

[Baluncore]

It has helped me find some experts on farm/agricultural experts on the time period stated so maybe they'll know.

Here is an old picture of St Catherine's Island, Tenby, Wales, with bathing machines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathing_machine
The beach was used for bathing machines in Victorian times, maybe one was stranded and wrecked by a winter storm. Your find was from South Beach, behind, and to the right of the photographer.

Tenby is a lovely little coastal town set atop high sheer cliffs with lovely sandy beaches below. Crumbling castle walls surround much of the town dating back to Norman times, giving a glimpse of the towns history. The towns beaches and bays were also one of the places used by troops training in preparation for D-Day.
There’s an island close to the town with a fort built to defend the town against the French, it was a gun emplacement during the war before being converted to a zoo until it closed. It now caters for visitors during low tide when the beach between it and Tenby is uncovered.
We also tried to visit one of the islands not far off he coast but the weather has been against us with the boat trip being cancelled most days due to sweep. In Victorian times Tenby was the place to flee from the city to enjoy medicinal baths in its water. They even had bathing boxes on horse carriages.

https://www.leggingit.com.au/oh-tenby-love/

 

[Silver Streak]

I have this unknown specimen similar to the one Xtempore has. This belonged to my deceased sister whom lived in North Central Florida. It is magnetic and weighs 89.0 grams & measures approximately 1.3/4" Long, by 1.1/2" Wide by 1.1/2" Height at the fattest side. I haven't beat on it but it feels quite hard. The center bubbles remind me of lead and the larger ones remind me more of the color of nickel. The bottom looks strange to me and little porous type holes are part of the metal.

 

[DaveC426913]

I have this unknown specimen similar to the one Xtempore has. This belonged to my deceased sister whom lived in North Central Florida. It is magnetic and weighs 89.0 grams & measures approximately 1.3/4" Long, by 1.1/2" Wide by 1.1/2" Height at the fattest side. I haven't beat on it but it feels quite hard. The center bubbles remind me of lead and the larger ones remind me more of the color of nickel. The bottom looks strange to me and little porous type holes are part of the metal.

You could determine its volume by dunking it in a full container of water and measuring how much water was displaced. With the volume and mass, you could work out the density, which will give you a clue as to its elemental composition.


_{or you could cheat and use Google lens to look it up and it will tell you explicitly...}

 

[Baluncore]

Maybe it is an alloy of silver, copper, and nickel coins, melted during a house fire.

Find a big pawn broker, in a big city. They will often buy precious metals for scrap. You might claim you believe it is silver, and say you are considering selling it for scrap. They will do an XRF analysis of the heavy metal content to identify the composition before making an offer.

For example, if you are in Central Florida;
https://pawnorlando.com/gold-testing-service/

 

[pinball1970]

You could determine its volume by dunking it in a full container of water and measuring how much water was displaced. With the volume and mass, you could work out the density, which will give you a clue as to its elemental composition.


_{or you could cheat and use Google lens to look it up and it will tell you explicitly...}

Eureka!