Melted metal object - original use?

[aghadowey]

Hopefully you can get the photo posted here but in the meantime I suggest the mystery item might be almost any item which was found in the ruins of the family home.
My cousin Thomas had a stone which was handed down from our great-grandmother. When she was leaving the family home in Ireland her brother Thomas picked up a pebble and threw it into the carriage for her to remember home. Fortunately there was also a note explaining the story and one of Tommy's children has it now (almost 150 years late).

[Lisa in California]

Erato, I do not have Microsoft Office.  But, thank you for suggesting the idea and explaining how I would edit it!

[Lisa in California]

aghadowey, that is such a sweet story.  I would imagine that the stone is one of the family’s most treasured items. I am very sentimental so I think your stone story is amazing.

While looking around my living room for any special family items, I saw the mantel clock that my parents received as a wedding gift from my dad’s parents.  It’s not the prettiest clock to begin with, it is missing a rather prominent trim piece and hasn’t kept time for years, but it means the world to me.

Regarding the metal item, I don’t believe the grandfather was well off and most likely was living in a (divided) house with other families. Due to the ravaged burn area, I would think that it would be more likely that the item was in his daughter’s house. However, it could have been found anywhere: on a road, in the park where they had to live after the earthquake and fire, a work mate could have given it to him, it might not even be from the 1906 fire.  However, it is a rather odd looking piece.  If I eventually figure out how to post the photos, others might agree (about it being odd).  Thank you for sharing, aghadowey.  I love your story.

[Neale1961]

Lisa, does this help?
https://www.howtogeek.com/726913/how-to-resize-or-reduce-photo-size-on-iphone-and-ipad/

[Lisa in California]

Neale1961, I will look at it now. Thank you!

[Lisa in California]

Lisa, does this help?
https://www.howtogeek.com/726913/how-to-resize-or-reduce-photo-size-on-iphone-and-ipad/

I think I missed a step as I can’t finish the process.  Family should be home soon. Hopefully, I can get help to figure out what I missed. 

[Lisa in California]

…After a relative passed away, we found in her family keepsake box what appears to be a small melted metal object. There is no one left in the family to ask questions about the object.

…next to the object was a burned coin wrapped in paper with the words “from the earthquake” (or similar words).  The family lived in San Francisco and they were there during the 1906 earthquake.  At some point, the grandfather left his residence to help his daughter’s family flee their neighbourhood. His neighbourhood was ultimately destroyed during the fire…

I am wondering if there are any suggestions of what this could have been before it melted/burned, please, as it seems to have a shape rather than a solid mass. It must have been important as it has possibly been in the family for 100+ years.

Note: the colours in the photo are a bit off. The object is actually a darker brown and doesn’t have the colour variations. 

[Lisa in California]

I have one more photo, of the “back” of the object but it is too large (522 kb) to post.  I can have my son reduce it (this week) if it will help seeing both sides.

Apologies about the large size of the above photo, I know that it is difficult to view but I didn’t know how to make it more compact. The actual object doesn’t look as scary. 

[Erato]

Maybe a skeleton key?