Labeled "The Richmond Foundry" under lid, some other writing but can't read it.
Someone told me this was a ashtray. Well it was used as a ashtray.
Heavy and made of cast iron.
Does it screw onto a 2" pipe?
don't see any threads or holes on the bottom.
Quote from: skylab on December 28, 2011, 01:29:41 PM
don't see any threads or holes on the bottom.
But I see a stamped metal hand for holding cigarettes. I think ashtray, advertising ashtray, is what it is.
Looks like a underground tank fill cap. Might be an advertising item salesmen passed out to potential customers like oil dealers or supply houses.
Richmond foundry (VA) was incorporeted in 1902, but starts back in the 1890's, starting out as a lead casting foundry, and going into, and exiting the cast (printing) type business.
by 1915:
"The Richmond Foundry & Machine Co. handles small machine parts, gas and water fixtures and connections, gears and other castings for ice-cream freezers, washing machines, etc"
So, Aunt Phil is probably right ....
Somewhat resembles a old water metercover-used to conceal the gallons used meter-the whole assy was a lot larger and encompased this part and had a cast iron lid usually at ground level, which had a nut simular to the one on the aforementioned part. You needed a special socket/wrench to turn the nut to be able to read the meter-otherwise riding one's bicycle over the lid un-locked would result in a big flat tire-ASK me how I know that one!!
Has to be Company advertising that salesmen pass out. An ASH TRAY.