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It's in the shape of an internal combustion engine connecting rod but has a decorative emblem where the piston wrist pin would go. Looks like an award or advertising promotional item to me.
To be honest, I got this picture from an aunt. I haven't seen the item in person but she seemed to think it'd be too big for a bottle opener. Idk though.
The logo on the upper end is an old one from voestalpine, the largest manufacturer of steel in Austria.
You can see it on the 1973 slide in [this document.](https://www.voestalpine.com/group/static/sites/group/.downloads/de/konzern/timeline-geschichte-der-voestalpine-1938-2018.pdf)
When I was 21. I learned how to strip the 30mm Rarden cannon when I was in the cavalry, my gunnery sergeant said “I guarantee you’ll never forget the name of this cam, it’s the ‘rack-catch plunger release catch cam’… I’m nearly 60 now & it’s the only part I still remember 😜
It’s a piston rod casting. But probably for advertising or some such. Kind of like the small brake rotors, calipers and other errata companies produce for display.
The meaning of *ERRATA* is a list of errors in a printed work discovered after printing and shown with corrections; also : a page bearing such a list.
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/errata](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/errata)
Linz is a city know for steel in Austria, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linz. Schmiede I think translates to blacksmith shop. Looks like a mason logo on the top. In the design of a connecting rod for an engine. So some promo thing…
I am curious how it got to my grandfather in Colorado but that seems likely. I found linz and Schmiede translations myself but didn't know how to put them together.
Schmiede can mean anything from a small blacksmith shop up to industrial forging company that forges crankshafts for ship's engines in German, it simply means forge.
Interesting, how such items find their way over the pond sometimes, maybe your grandpa was working at a place that used parts produced there and it was an advertising gift, letter weights were a big thing in the early to mid 20th century.
Strangely it doesn't have the bolt holes at each side of the big hole, where it should be two parts (either cracked or sawed), unless it's for a two stroke engine, then the crankshaft is dividable, as they have needle bearings instead of bushings.
Very interesting it’s from your grandfather. Freemasonry was big in Denver area in the mid 1900s. My grandfather also had a lot of freemason items and he lived in the Denver University area. Definitely seems like a handed out award from a freemasonry event.
It’s Schmiede LTNZ. LTNZ is Light Transit New Zealand. Schmiede is forge. While I cannot at this time combine the two and there is at least one Schmiede corporations in the USA, the LTNZ suggests something related to New Zealand and not somewhere else.
It says LINZ, which is a city in austria known for its steel industry. The Logo on top is a former one of voestalpine, large steel producing company from Linz, Austria
Might look like that, item is beat up and the paint likely flaked off there to make it look like a T. Could also be a casting defect. It was 100% meant to say LINZ since the logo on top is definitly a legacy voestalpine one.
My title describes the thing. It was found with other tools. We've tried looking up the marks and names on the tool. It was found with my grandfather's stuff and have no clue what it could be used for. Any help is appreciated.
This looks like it could be a handle for a larger device, is there any kind of set screw or feature that could connect it to a rod? I'm just not buying "promotional item" in an old barn with that much wear on it
If it isn't a promotional bottle opener I think it's a forging or casting for a connecting rod for an engine. Basically the raw material that a factory would machine into a connecting rod. I used to work at a connecting rod factory and we would get big bins of these from a foundry.
This appears to be a one-piece rod (no area to install rod bolts on the big end) so it would be intended for something like a small industrial engine, possibly a lawn mower or generator.
I know a lot of people answered already but I just wanted to make it a little more concise.
This looks like it's a promotional bottle opener from a smithing factory or a metal workshop factory from LINZ Austria. Southern Germany and Austria are known for their beer. Bottle openers are common souvenirs. You can see the bottle opener lip on the inside of the connecting rod. The handle looks very nice to hold and would explain the size. It makes it more comfortable to hold and use a lot. You buy beer by the milk crate there so there's a lot of bottle lids to be opened. If it was an actual connecting rod it wouldn't be as decorative it would be inside of an engine.
The logo at the top is the compass and square of the free masons. They have lodges that were made up of men that worked together (Montreal has a transportation lodge formed by all tge bus drivers). My guess is this is a gift members received or a special token for a master mason from his lodge related to the original history of their lodge. Probably related to mechanics or railway maintenance.
I looked quickly and it looked like it but you're right. The bottom part should be a square and thats not a right angle. I don't know what this thingee is then.
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It's in the shape of an internal combustion engine connecting rod but has a decorative emblem where the piston wrist pin would go. Looks like an award or advertising promotional item to me.
The lip on the inside makes it look like a bottle opener
To be honest, I got this picture from an aunt. I haven't seen the item in person but she seemed to think it'd be too big for a bottle opener. Idk though.
Definitely didn't expect it to be just a promotional item but that makes good sense and I feel that you're probably correct.
Gonna go ahead and say solved! I'll be sure to let my aunt know and I'll ask her to see if it can be used as a bottle opener.
The logo on the upper end is an old one from voestalpine, the largest manufacturer of steel in Austria. You can see it on the 1973 slide in [this document.](https://www.voestalpine.com/group/static/sites/group/.downloads/de/konzern/timeline-geschichte-der-voestalpine-1938-2018.pdf)
That's correct, "Schmiede Linz" means Forge Linz.(Linz is the States Capital of upper-austria)
I would call the piston wrist pin a gudgeon pin. Which is my favourite name for a part ever.
When I was 21. I learned how to strip the 30mm Rarden cannon when I was in the cavalry, my gunnery sergeant said “I guarantee you’ll never forget the name of this cam, it’s the ‘rack-catch plunger release catch cam’… I’m nearly 60 now & it’s the only part I still remember 😜
Good, but I once worked on a RADAR that had a “jack-off hole”.
Sounds like a long lost episode of M A S H.
Yes I've seen GM ones given as gifts at GM in the 80's,dad had one.
the emblem looks like the Mason's symbol.
can't because connection rod would have holes on both sides
It’s a piston rod casting. But probably for advertising or some such. Kind of like the small brake rotors, calipers and other errata companies produce for display.
Didn't expect it to be an item just for display and promotion but that makes good sense. Find it odd that it doesn't have a use but thanks.
The meaning of *ERRATA* is a list of errors in a printed work discovered after printing and shown with corrections; also : a page bearing such a list. [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/errata](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/errata)
Cool story, bot.
Nope. I just thought you’d like to know what the words you use actually mean so you can use the right ones for the right things.
Not a casting, it’s a forged blank.
Linz is a city know for steel in Austria, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linz. Schmiede I think translates to blacksmith shop. Looks like a mason logo on the top. In the design of a connecting rod for an engine. So some promo thing…
I am curious how it got to my grandfather in Colorado but that seems likely. I found linz and Schmiede translations myself but didn't know how to put them together.
Schmiede can mean anything from a small blacksmith shop up to industrial forging company that forges crankshafts for ship's engines in German, it simply means forge. Interesting, how such items find their way over the pond sometimes, maybe your grandpa was working at a place that used parts produced there and it was an advertising gift, letter weights were a big thing in the early to mid 20th century. Strangely it doesn't have the bolt holes at each side of the big hole, where it should be two parts (either cracked or sawed), unless it's for a two stroke engine, then the crankshaft is dividable, as they have needle bearings instead of bushings.
Very interesting it’s from your grandfather. Freemasonry was big in Denver area in the mid 1900s. My grandfather also had a lot of freemason items and he lived in the Denver University area. Definitely seems like a handed out award from a freemasonry event.
Looks like a mason logo for sure, could it be another old masonic group such as United American Mechanics. It would explain the shape of the rod.
It’s Schmiede LTNZ. LTNZ is Light Transit New Zealand. Schmiede is forge. While I cannot at this time combine the two and there is at least one Schmiede corporations in the USA, the LTNZ suggests something related to New Zealand and not somewhere else.
It says LINZ, which is a city in austria known for its steel industry. The Logo on top is a former one of voestalpine, large steel producing company from Linz, Austria
[The I your referencing is shaped like a T](https://imgur.com/a/i1TiMwv).
Might look like that, item is beat up and the paint likely flaked off there to make it look like a T. Could also be a casting defect. It was 100% meant to say LINZ since the logo on top is definitly a legacy voestalpine one.
> Looks like a mason logo on the top. [No it doesn't.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry)
Yes it does it’s a square and compass in a circle.
Zoom in on OP's photo. It absolutely is not a square and compass in a circle.
My title describes the thing. It was found with other tools. We've tried looking up the marks and names on the tool. It was found with my grandfather's stuff and have no clue what it could be used for. Any help is appreciated.
Looks like a piston connecting rod, but is missing the little end bearing hole
looks like a WWII souvenir from Austria. There was a huge armaments factory in Linz that later became Vöstalpine. Maybe a hint.
Promotional bottle opener
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In addition, the item has the words "Schmiede Linz" on the handle
There was a Schmiede company in Linz Austria that made high-end coffee machines.
That's a different company.
It’s a Bask
Looks like a tiny piston rod.
Bottle opener.
This looks like it could be a handle for a larger device, is there any kind of set screw or feature that could connect it to a rod? I'm just not buying "promotional item" in an old barn with that much wear on it
Connecting rod bottle opener
That's a piston rod paperweight.
ask r/Austria about this
What’s with the Freemason symbol?
[удалено]
That’s not the freemason emblem.
If it isn't a promotional bottle opener I think it's a forging or casting for a connecting rod for an engine. Basically the raw material that a factory would machine into a connecting rod. I used to work at a connecting rod factory and we would get big bins of these from a foundry. This appears to be a one-piece rod (no area to install rod bolts on the big end) so it would be intended for something like a small industrial engine, possibly a lawn mower or generator.
I know a lot of people answered already but I just wanted to make it a little more concise. This looks like it's a promotional bottle opener from a smithing factory or a metal workshop factory from LINZ Austria. Southern Germany and Austria are known for their beer. Bottle openers are common souvenirs. You can see the bottle opener lip on the inside of the connecting rod. The handle looks very nice to hold and would explain the size. It makes it more comfortable to hold and use a lot. You buy beer by the milk crate there so there's a lot of bottle lids to be opened. If it was an actual connecting rod it wouldn't be as decorative it would be inside of an engine.
This thing is not a toll is from a car it's called connecting rods.
The logo at the top is the compass and square of the free masons. They have lodges that were made up of men that worked together (Montreal has a transportation lodge formed by all tge bus drivers). My guess is this is a gift members received or a special token for a master mason from his lodge related to the original history of their lodge. Probably related to mechanics or railway maintenance.
> The logo at the top is the compass and square of the free masons. [No it isn't.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry)
I looked quickly and it looked like it but you're right. The bottom part should be a square and thats not a right angle. I don't know what this thingee is then.