Artifact, Unidentified

Description

Beam compass(?) or possibly a trammel, consisting of a 9/16" diameter steel rod with a wire pin through one end. Sliding along the rod is a 3/4" x 1" x 6" block of birch drilled lengthwise for rod. The flat back of this block has been chiseled out (1/2" x 4" x 7/16" mortise) and a tapered piece of sheet brass fitted into mortise with narrow end bent to clasp the rod. This is secured at the wide end with two brass nail-like rods. A length (1 1/2") of iron wire is set into one edge of this block that has been filed to a sharp point.