Help! Does anyone know what this object is?

An old family friend of mine posted a photo of his Great Great Grandfather today.
It is Post Civil War. He was a Union Soldier when he was younger.
He was from Pennsylvania, but later relocated to West Virginia.
We believe he was maybe a farmer.
He has these things hanging around his neck in a photo, and nobody can figure out what they are.
Upon first glance, they remind one of horseshoes. We discussed horseshoe molds, however after a lot of research, we learned that in those days, they were mostly made by a blacksmith or the metal was heated and shaped by the farmer himself.
I don't know how to upload a photo here to ATS, so here is the link to the photo I uplaoaded to Imgur.

imgur.com...

Thanks for your help!

a reply to: Mjab6910

i can t faze book

upload2ats

thx

why don`t you post the picture here? a lot of people don`t have facebook

Many of us can't see it because we avoid Fakebook like a disease.

a reply to: Lysergic

How do I upload a picture from my phone here to ATS?
Thanks!

a reply to: DAVID64

I am supersized how many of us here don't do the FB . not really but it does speak to many members here .

I thought you wrote 'Unicorn Soldier', which I would have totally known about, but I have no idea what it is you actually posted.

a reply to: Mjab6910

I went to the link and got this...

"The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may be broken or expired, or you may not have permission to view this page."

sorry.

a reply to: Mjab6910

Not sure what those are, but here's Your pic.

a reply to: Mjab6910

I still have Facebook because I like to see what the bastards are spinning.....I looked at the picture and this is just a guess but those look like some kind of early medical device...was he wounded in the war?

First thing that wanted to come out of my mouth was : Photoshopped.

Reasoning: Who would pose for a picture dressed like that ... and have something draped around their neck? It doesn't seem to wash.

Well, two halves coming together, looks like some kind of coil with a circuit and on the other side not seen similar early circuiting bottom a latch to tie it together and a connection to slip the open point to allow a connected circuit so when it is together a complete circuit.

My best estimation yes i have the education for it: Early tin foil hat

a reply to: Snarl

This is not photoshopped.
The gentleman that posted would not even know how to do that. He's 70 years old.
He simply posted a photo of his great great grandfather.
It was everyone else, myself included, that was intrigued by what was around his neck.

a reply to: SyxPak

Thanks so much!
You're awesome!

Possibly clamps a shoemaker would use to stretch leather over a wooden mold ???

Looks like some tiny toilet seats.

something to do with horseshoes.
guessing....

Some kind of handcuffs, or horse-hobbles?

a reply to: Mjab6910

That is Mr. Abraham Bennett Harris (1837-1923). His obit was posted on Find A Grave. Sounds like he was a farmer. Find A Grave:

Mr. A. B. Harris, a well known citizen of Cripple Creek, passed away Sunday night at his home at the age of 87 years. A number of years ago Mr. Harris decided to leave his native state, Pennsylvania, and settle in Virginia. He purchased the farm on which he resided since coming to this country.

Nothing else about any trade that might point to an identification of the item around his neck.