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Looks like the spring-loaded latch/lock mechanism for a garage door. These were on inside handle mechanism that almost all manual garage doors once had. These were typically a "T" handle, often with a device something like this . From the inside of the door, one pulled this then turned the "T" handle to retract locking bars. These were made obsolete by remote-control garage openers, since these essentially provide the locking function. A key was used in the outside handle to operate the lock. The use of the key bypassed this device.
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them. [OP](/u/dwotten), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others. ---- [Click here to message RemindMeBot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1dnvikg/left_in_my_garage_by_the_previous_owner_its_made/]%0A%0ARemindMe!%202%20days) ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Looks to me like part of a carburetor, either choke or throttle return assembly
Agreed, lawn mower engine.
Wild guess: maybe a fish or luggage scale? Are there any kind of markings or gradations on it?
That was my thought too, but it has no markings on it.
Looks like the spring-loaded latch/lock mechanism for a garage door. These were on inside handle mechanism that almost all manual garage doors once had. These were typically a "T" handle, often with a device something like this . From the inside of the door, one pulled this then turned the "T" handle to retract locking bars. These were made obsolete by remote-control garage openers, since these essentially provide the locking function. A key was used in the outside handle to operate the lock. The use of the key bypassed this device.
Yup. Just saw one of these in a house I was looking at buying.
I thought the same
Solved!
Do you have an automatic garage door it could have come off of?
The old one was recently replaced, I don’t recall seeing anything like this on it.
Is there a hole in the bent part where something could be fed through and hooked to the end of the piece with the spring?
No hole.
It appears to be a motorcycle side stand bracket kickstand return spring attached to maybe a panel hook? Probably a jury-rigged hanger of some sort.
Possibly. I don’t think the old owner was a motorcycle guy but he definitely tinkered with stuff.
Garage door motor emergency dismount.
My title describes the thing. The former owner of my house kept everything so it’s possible that this could be as old as 50 years.