Bob G. is probably on the right track ... although there was a plethora of 
early fountain pen types, this does not appear to be similar to any I've 
seen ... and his idea of a pencil lead holder is even warmer.

I believe it may be an early type of "timber crayon" ... a holder for the 
wax-based "leads" used for marking the ends of timber cuts. Here is one 
(patented in the US in 1879) that is in the right era for the mill operation 
at Lake Cootharaba AND the patent drawing shows a marked similiarity to your 
artefact, too:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=DlNNAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=timber+crayon&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1870&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1891&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1

Bob Skiles
~~~~~~~~~~~
If at first an idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it. ~ Albert 
Einstein

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karen Murphy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 10:17 PM
Subject: ARTEFACT IDENTIFICATION


> Hi all
>
>
>
> During excavations at a late-19th century timber mill settlement on Lake
> Cootharaba, in southeast Queensland, Australia, an interesting metal
> artefact was found.  It is a cylindrical item around 6cm long, with what
> appears to be a knob that twisted around the barrel of the item, possibly
> extending and retracting an interior piece.  An image of the item is
> available at http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=78055
> <http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=78055&pid=42037> &pid=42037
>
>
>
> We have come up with a few suggestions and ideas here, but would 
> appreciate
> any more concrete information and identification of such an item.  And
> whether people have come across something similar in their work? Or any
> other ideas?
>
>
>
> Your help is appreciated.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Karen
>
>
>
> ----
>
> Karen Murphy
>
> School of Social Science
>
> (Anthropology, Archaeology, Criminology, Sociology)
>
> University of Queensland
>
> Brisbane  QLD  4072
>
> Australia
>
>
>
> Ph: +61 7 3346 9551
>
> M: 0401 644 678
>
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> Visit the Mill 
> <http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=42037&pid=41684>
> Point Archaeological Project website
>
>
>
> Queensland State Representative
>
> Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
>
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>