Unusual Heavy Brass Catch?

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi All,

Some unusual auction finds this week starting with this strange heavily constructed solid brass or bronze catch.

Operated by pulling the slide and closed in the same way by pushing it back in. Obviously built to sit in a recess, secured by 4 fasteners; the odd thing is that it must be dismantled in order to access the other two bolt holes; each bolt hole has a small”nib” that probably stops the bolt head from turning when tightened up from the rear?

The tapered recess is 105 x 55mm, aperture is 32mm

Google Lens shows nothing?

Any help much appreciated! Cheers, Martin

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

No real idea, but if I had to guess I would suggest a rope guide, and given the material, size and shape probably for marine use. Possibly let into a recess in the deck.

[Mark EasingwoodParticipant @markeasingwood33578]

I have no idea either, but if it is Bronze then it may well be boating related.

More likely it is Brass with a BMA finish, this finish was popular into the 1960’s, on door furniture etc, and was used in Schools, Hospitals, Power Stations, Offices and other Government/State buildings. I think BMA stands for “Bronze Metal Antique” or similar.

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

My thoughts hark back to an old boat that i once crewed on that had a complex set of running back stays that had to be switched at each tack.

I do seem to remember that there was a pair of opening catches that took either a preventer stay or guy sort of similar to this thing?

Cheers, Martin

[Mark Easingwood]

On Mark Easingwood Said:

…

More likely it is Brass with a BMA finish, this finish was popular into the 1960’s, on door furniture etc, …

Which observation got me thinking about public buildings!

I reckon Martin’s clamp is part of an older style rope partition system.  These are often deployed in museums and stately homes to keep the grubby public at a polite distance.  Common in restaurants, nightclubs & cinemas etc too : anywhere there might be a queue.

Modern versions tend to put clips on the rope ends and rings on the post, but the other way round is done too.

There can be two ropes between stanchions, and the next picture shows rings.

New to me, the rope can be run floor to ceiling, as in this example:

Partitions being more-or-less temporary, it makes sense to attach the ropes with a quick-release mechanism.

Might be nautical except I don’t think it’s sturdy enough.  Could be wrong!

Dave

 

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Dave, IMHO it is hugely over engineered for the above purpose? Also the release slide takes a fair bit of force to operate? Just my 2 cents worth 🙂

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, attaching your big butch dog on a lead, outside  a shop. (smiley)

Regards Nick.

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Old country house with deep wooden window reveals. It’s the quality and class of the flush fitted anchor for the cord that holds the drapes. One each side of the window of course.  Not required to be opened very frequently, needs to be robust and in keeping with the heavy rope like cord with fancy end fittings, and needs to be discrete in its fitment.

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