# What is/was this thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740 "2021-04-25T12:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/1 "2021-04-25T12:44:28Z")
A buddy opened a trendy new restaurant where a repurposed thing is hung as art. Anyone know? [[Album] What was this? ![](https://i.imgur.com/dNbmHND.jpeg?fb "What was this?") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/MpXFoOO) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/2 "2021-04-25T12:48:12Z")
It’s some kind of latch from something very heavy. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/3 "2021-04-25T13:18:36Z")
It looks a lot like a truck or freight lift latch. The A148 90/60 indicates it is made of Cast Steel. Apparently it is a US Steel Wood Pattern. This was used to make the casting molds before becoming art. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/4 "2021-04-25T13:39:08Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Apparently it is a US Steel Wood Pattern. This was used to make the casting molds before becoming art. Cool! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/5 "2021-04-25T18:10:22Z")
And found this thanks to @What_Exit > **[US Steel Wood Pattern Wall Hanging #60](https://modfinish.com/us-steel-wood-pattern-wall-hanging-60/)** > > Price: USD 585 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/6 "2021-04-25T19:33:03Z")
Great pick up on that. Pattern milling was a major specialty trade back in the day. Some of the most elaborate milling machines I’ve ever seen were pattern mills. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/7 "2021-04-25T20:52:15Z")
Funny thing is I did a little bit of clay molding in Metal Shop back in High School and then for over a decade worked at a manufacturing whose primary business was molding nylon parts. But my first thought was it was an actually part mounted and not the mold pattern. I love the fact that despite it being made of wood apparently, the Cast Steel type is of course part of the pattern. We had an old lift to the laundry room when I worked at the hospital with a latch like that. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/8 "2021-04-26T06:36:01Z")
Looks like an early attempted design of a record player to me. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-this-thing/940740/9 "2021-04-26T09:36:35Z")
“Split Patt”. Does that mean it actually comes apart into two separate pieces?