Mystery whatzit

[Ed Harrow]

Our Grand Neighbor died a few weeks ago (wonderful, wonderful person, as was her husband, couldn't ask for finer neighbors), and their family has been doing some house cleaning. We went and raided the dumpster and found this curious thing. It's about 6' long overall, the straight part is about 4', 6" wide and 1.5" thick. The large hole is 1.125", and the large nail circle is 3.75". There's a small hole near the one end, a small split, and a dowel put thru and wedged. Any idea?
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/wlgtoo/Spring%20Lane/shop%20and%20tools/DSC_0094.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/wlgtoo/Spring%20Lane/shop%20and%20tools/DSC_0097.jpg

You can see the tip of the dowel in this photo.

I also recovered an H&R (Harrington & Richardson) saw sharpening gizmo, complete with instructions. First person to say, "I want it!" gets it.

[Mitchell Andrus]

Looks like a part of a rudder assembly for a small skiff or dory. I've seen similar parts in Nova Scotia. The system was attached to the side of the boat at the stern. Was anyone in the family into fishing or sailing small boats?
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[Lee Schierer]

It could be a runner for an ice boat....

[Chris Padilla]

I'm no sailor but I agree w/the two above: a watercraft steering thingy. :)

[Ed Harrow]

Well, good guesses, but... If this thing spent much time under water it would very likely have run into the odd rock - it's really very ding free... If it were an iceboat runner, wouldn't it have a metal edge? (I've not been near an ice boat since a was a wee one admiring Mr. Leonard's.)

What about the H&R sharpening gizmo - anyone interested? You could hang it on your wall as your very own whatzitz.

[Bryan Morgan]

I'd say a handle to some kind of cart. Was there a matching one for the other side? Something round was connected around the middle hole... Looks like stress cracks and some wear in the bottom hole...

[Rich Engelhardt]

Well, good guesses, but... If this thing spent much time under water it would very likely have run into the odd rock - it's really very ding free...
The tiller is the part of the rudder system that's above water.
The rudder is that part that goes in the water.
That sure looks like a tiller.

Google "boat tiller" images and have a look-see.

[Prashun Patel]

It's an ergonomically designed cricket bat for a giant with a bad back.
The hole in the middle reduces wind drag for a faster swing.

[Ed Harrow]

It's an ergonomically designed cricket bat for a giant with a bad back.
The hole in the middle reduces wind drag for a faster swing.

I like it! Quoting my father, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

That's about the ugliest tiller I've ever seen :)

Cart handle - seems possible, but there was only the one. Doesn't mean there wasn't once another. Kind of an odd one, tho.

Geez, and the H&R sharpening set-up is still unclaimed; somebody must want it. I risked my life and limb dumpster diving to get it, and all of its parts, out of the dumpster.

[Mike Cruz]

Shawn, ya beat me to it. I thought of a cricket bat, but was going to go with a cheater hockey stick for a 2 foot person.

[Dave Verstraete]

It looks a lot like the paddle that came out of the closet everytime I messed up as a kid.:D

[Bill Cunningham]

It looks like a shadow of someone holding their head saying "what the hell is this" ....Ohhhh the Wood thing...Sorry...don't know what that is..

[Mike Langford]

....I also recovered an H&R (Harrington & Richardson) saw sharpening gizmo, complete with instructions. First person to say, "I want it!" gets it.

O.K. Ed, I'm your huckaberry....

I want it...Send it to me! ;)

I'll PM you my mailing address....

[Jim O'Dell]

My first thought was one side of a home made wheel barrow. Maybe one side broke, thrown away, and this kept as a pattern to make a new one. Jim.

[Shawn Pixley]

Instead of a tiller or rudder for a boat I'd venture a Swing handle for a dagger board (that's a "liftable keel for the non-nautical) on a small sailboat. It really doesn't look right for a tiller assembly.

[Ernie Nyvall]

It looks like a handle on a big loom I've seen before. Can't be sure though.

[Ed Harrow]

I can believe that - this is not something that's been out in the weather, but it doesn't appear to have been handled much - the finish is pretty much intact on the 'handle'. There were a number of fabric mills about this area in the past. Thanks for the tip!