lol.. I was looking at old texas drilling rigs to see if i could spot that piece but i was unable to get close up photographs. This is like CSI for metal, i like it.

I've seen similar (although smaller) lumps of metal set into large wooden beams to act as bearings in very old mills. There are sometimes signs that a softer metal has been cast inside around a shaft.

It's a gazonta. That hole gazonta something.
Finnr

By golly you might be right Art! Then again it might be Gozroundit.

Personally I'd be thinking about what I could do with it, there are plenty of good shapes available.

Frosty

Ok gang. What am I going to do with it besides use it as a vise stand weight? Remember it's 12" in diameter and it weighs.... Oh darn, I forgot to weigh it but it's at least 50 pounds. And I can't get it into my forge. And I don't have a cutting torch yet.

Build a small trebuchet and use it for the weight.

Hello, I have seen rings similar (in size & shape) to this in use for a few different purposes, I have no idea which job your ring was for, but maybe one of the following:

1) As the retaining ring to hold a large stone 'wheel' on an old style cider mill - I mean for crushing the apples not pressing the juice from them. The ring goes on the outer part of the beam/axle and a wedge in the end stops it moving off.

2) In a Bulgarian wheelwright's workshop (seriously), a very rural place. When spokes were put into the hub, the hub was held in place by four vertical roundwood 'fingers', the big ring went over these and was hammered down to give a firm grip - a clever and simple idea.

3) On a mast below the rope lashing where the mast emerges throught the deck - although I do not know what purpose it serves at that point.

Any thoughts?

Edited March 5, 200917 yr by GNJC

Whether it's a gazonta or a gozroundit, it's no use without a gozinner.

It is a Round toit.

For years you have been saying "I will do that as soon as I get around to it".

Now that you have got one everything will be easier. ;)

I would check with a local museum. They should be able to identify it a little better perhaps. Besides, it could be worth more as is than to make it into something else. Just an idea.