Mystery forging

[egaParticipant @ega]

[egaParticipant @ega]

Can anyone identify the item in my photos?

The object, believed to be a steel forging rather than a casting, came into my possession during a recent factory tour in west London; overall dimensions are about 2" x 2.75".

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

No idea but could it be converted to use as a bottle opener

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

door knocker?

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

Posted by pgk pgk on 24/02/2020 16:10:05:

door knocker?

Only if they are bad at spelling – it is marked DN not DK

(I'm now hiding behind the settee!)

[DanielParticipant @daniel]

Posted by Derek Lane on 24/02/2020 16:03:25:

No idea but could it be converted to use as a bottle opener

+1

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Posted by John Paton 1 on 24/02/2020 17:17:47:

Posted by pgk pgk on 24/02/2020 16:10:05:

door knocker?

Only if they are bad at spelling – it is marked DN not DK

(I'm now hiding behind the settee!)

It could be a Chinese made piece therefore Door Nocker

OK I have my coat and hat ready

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

steam punk mobile phone holder (EE)

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I don’t know what it is … but I can guess who probably made it.

MichaelG.

.

https://www.indiamart.com/dnforge/profile.html

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 24/02/2020 20:23:04

[egaParticipant @ega]

Thank you all for your interest – and interesting suggestions. Unfortunately, I don't know whether the dnforge idea is correct but I can say that early versions of this component came from France.

As a hint, the gold-coloured ring is brazing metal.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

West London factory, brazing, steel. Brompton bike hinge?

Rod

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Looks, to me, like an automatic feeder of some kind where the pipe attached (by brazing) only allows the device to actuate a valve when moved from its rest position, hence the hook-on/easy-detach hinge on the end.

At nearly two inches, it looks too big for a pheasant feeder.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by Roderick Jenkins on 25/02/2020 07:42:09:

West London factory, brazing, steel. Brompton bike hinge?

Rod

I think you might be the winner Rod, we will wait and see.

Mike

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Thought they were cast steel and this puts doubt on Michael's theory

Edited By JasonB on 25/02/2020 08:36:12

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 25/02/2020 08:32:27:

[…]

and this puts doubt on Michael's theory

.

< pedant alert >

… not a theory : at best an hypothesis

MichaelG.

.

P.S. … I note that the Brompton hinge components, illustrated in the link, are marked C U

…  do those letters identify the part, or is it perhaps just plausible that identify the manufacturer ?

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/02/2020 09:15:38

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

It looks quite complex to be a forging but I am not an expert on forging, far from it. Would it be a malleable iron casting? having a bit of a google it appears there are a few letter combinations on similar items.

Mike

[John MCParticipant @johnmc39344]

Looks like an investment casting to me. Also looks like a Brompton hinge but looking at the picture of the unmachined hinge, they look like sand castings. As for material, my money is on malleable iron.

John

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 25/02/2020 09:08:21:

Posted by JasonB on 25/02/2020 08:32:27:

[…]

and this puts doubt on Michael's theory

.

< pedant alert >

… not a theory : at best an hypothesis

MichaelG.

.

P.S. … I note that the Brompton hinge components, illustrated in the link, are marked C U

… do those letters identify the part, or is it perhaps just plausible that identify the manufacturer ?

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/02/2020 09:15:38

Both right, I suspect. I doubt a cycle-maker would make a specialised forging like that himself. They're probably bought in from any of several sources. Maybe the DN number is a coincidence, maybe not. DNForge make that kind of object. If Michael can find another Forge maker using CU identifiers, I'd be convinced.

Dave

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Roderick Jenkins on 25/02/2020 07:42:09:

West London factory, brazing, steel. Brompton bike hinge?

Rod

Got it in one sir!

PS I will try to find out whether it's a casting or a forging.

Edited By ega on 25/02/2020 11:12:27

[egaParticipant @ega]

I have now photographed the corresponding item in situ:

The letters are, again, different.

Thinking about the traditional cycle frame lug, I was struck by the short length of engagement of the tube at this vital juncture. Brompton used to warrant their frames for life although I understand this is now a nominal five years.

[lfoggyParticipant @lfoggy]

I've had two Brompton frames fail in normal use. Both at brazed joints. To be fair to them they did replace them without any question. Given up on Bromptons now, but not becuase fo frame failure – I just no longer need the folding feature. Odd bikes to ride. Very wobbly, fast steering and hard work, particluarly up hills. And their small wheels don't like potholes !

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by John MC on 25/02/2020 10:42:52:

Looks like an investment casting to me. Also looks like a Brompton hinge but looking at the picture of the unmachined hinge, they look like sand castings. As for material, my money is on malleable iron.

John

I wondered if it was a shell-moulding.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by lfoggy on 25/02/2020 19:00:16:

I've had two Brompton frames fail in normal use. Both at brazed joints. To be fair to them they did replace them without any question. Given up on Bromptons now, but not becuase fo frame failure – I just no longer need the folding feature. Odd bikes to ride. Very wobbly, fast steering and hard work, particluarly up hills. And their small wheels don't like potholes !

Interesting, as I understand they have a sophisticated testing procedure and the failure rate is low.

If you think the Brompton is wobbly you should try the Bickerton!

I agree about the hills, hence the attraction for some of the electric version.

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