What is this? Answered

I wasn't sure if they still made that type, but apparently they do:

+1

That's a dry-line cover off a building stand-pipe. The sprinkers in many buildings are NOT pressurized, and just have lines run to the outside to hook up a fire truck to pump water INTO the building's existing fire suppression pipes. You can see how the arms being depressed keep the cap locked onto the end of the standpipe in the internal view of the OP's post. A one-use ziptie holds the arms down and keeps the cap in place

I dont know. There was machinery at the creek to clean up form a storm though.

In that case, it may have been dropped by someone who was supposed to be there and acting appropriately.

These caps are found on all sorts of liquid pumpers (I saw some this morning on a fuel tanker truck) and could have even come off of a water tanker. Around here we have a lot of trucks that deliver fresh water to construction sites that don't have water lines installed yet.

It has nothing under it. Its all open. I doubt it is a compass. Thanks for the guess tho!

Looking at the new photo and taking into account the size, I'm inclined to agree that it is a cap, not a land mine (though it may have held back the "natural" kind - eww!). The original photo looked smaller and it seemed to have a lid. Kinda looked like a compass. Looks like brass, so it is probably worth a couple of dollars just for the scrap value alone.

Qa

BTW,

Hello to a fellow Pennsylvanian. SE here. What quad are you?

QA

United States. Pennsylvania

Thanks. The reason I wanted to know your location is there's old mines and other things found on a regular basis around the world. (We had a beach closed on Vancouver Island this month after some WWII munitions were found, most likely used during training in the world war). I'm not sure what may have occurred in Pennsylvania, but there is a chance that it was used in training (if it is a mine device). It may be hard to say though, because each country used a different looking landmine, and changed their appearance over the years.

I read your reply to QA, So you say you opened it?

I just saw picture 2. I'm not sure what it is. It could be a training mine, as they would be more likely to use an empty device than a live one; but it's really hard to say. I doubt its a hose cap (as suggested), at least I can't see how it would function or connect to a septic or water truck (unless people are known for dumping raw sewage in your waterways). It could have been a case for something, but I'm at a loss. You might want to check with some people in your area (that are much older). They might be able to identify it.

I think you are probably right. I dont know where it would come from because there is no place with in a half mile that would have a cap like that or a septic tank.

Check out the new bottom picture.