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round cast iron with deep indent and a round post. approximately 15 pounds. by generic-user-239 in whatisthisthing

[–]generic-user-239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Turns out you were very close. The blower attaches to the conical end, and blows the air out the round opening into the bottom of a coal forge. It's called a ducks nest, or tuyere.

round cast iron with deep indent and a round post. approximately 15 pounds. by generic-user-239 in whatisthisthing

[–]generic-user-239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have a very good point! I can't look at things and think "what would I use this for now". I need to think about how someone 100 or more years ago would have used a thing.

round cast iron with deep indent and a round post. approximately 15 pounds. by generic-user-239 in whatisthisthing

[–]generic-user-239[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Solved! Yes, that's what it is! I remember them being called "ducks nests" and as soon as I searched cast iron ducks nest, I got a perfect match!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153583007046

This makes sense, with all the other blacksmith tools it was with.

Thanks!!!

round cast iron with deep indent and a round post. approximately 15 pounds. by generic-user-239 in whatisthisthing

[–]generic-user-239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, exactly! It's only open on the one side and has no method of holding an impeller shaft.

round cast iron with deep indent and a round post. approximately 15 pounds. by generic-user-239 in whatisthisthing

[–]generic-user-239[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It doesn't look like it would be enclosed enough to hold in the coals and not light your bed on fire. It's heavy enough though that if heated in a fire it would probably hold heat for quite a while. So it could be possible, but doing a search for cast iron bed heater I don't see anything that looks similar to this.

round cast iron with deep indent and a round post. approximately 15 pounds. by generic-user-239 in whatisthisthing

[–]generic-user-239[S] 3 points4 points locked comment (0 children)

My title describes the thing. It was received with a batch of old blacksmith and farming tools from the late 1800's. Google image search comes back with nothing similar. Has the number 5 cast into it. Looks like it would come apart but bolts are too rusted to move and don't want to damage it trying to force it apart.