Frock Coat Weights?

[Valley Ranger]

Hey folks, I've been hunting and old farmstead here in the Shenandoah Valley. The area also saw quite a bit of WBTS action. Anyway, need some help on these items please. The 2 items at the bottom of the picture are apparently some type of lead weights. I've seen them on other forums ID'd as frock coat weights and/or tent weights. Each one has the number "5" stamped on it. The large round item is some type of brass - looks like a bell - maybe off of one of the old crank phones . . . ?? The decorative item, maybe off of a lamp? Then, the iron piece, I don't have a clue - looks like some kind of tag or something. Any help would be appreciated!!

 

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[Silver Searcher]

They are Hem weights

http://jolinhunt.tripod.com/known.html

SS

 

[Valley Ranger]

They are Hem weights

http://jolinhunt.tripod.com/known.html

SS

Thanks SS! Could be, who can know for sure? I've had several other folks tell me they are just as likely frock coat weights. I suppose they could/were be used for either. One fella who's been relic hunting for years told me he only finds them on CW related sites. See:
http://www.civilwaroutpost.com/m7/U42--civil-war-frock-coat-weights.html

Thanks again!

 

[Silver Searcher]

They are Hem weights

http://jolinhunt.tripod.com/known.html

SS

Thanks SS! Could be, who can know for sure? I've had several other folks tell me they are just as likely frock coat weights. I suppose they could/were be used for either. One fella who's been relic hunting for years told me he only finds them on CW related sites. See:
http://www.civilwaroutpost.com/m7/U42--civil-war-frock-coat-weights.html

Thanks again!

Yes that's right, sewn into the hems of coats or curtains

SS

 

[CASPER-2]

i have found round ones - square ones and at least one triangle one
the were used to hold (old) curtain and drape corners down also
think mostly used in the late 1800's early 1900's
Im sure guys used them for fishing weights too back then

 

[Chris Canada]

I have found 1 myself in Lexington at my uncles house.
The house was not built until early 1900 but the yard hosted a stable an coral during the civil war.
Also found a wedding band with initials scratched inside and cufflinks.
going back to Lexington and Manassas in April!
can't wait.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Your ornate brass item is most certainly a piece of a gas valve from a wall sconce, chandelier, or other gas lighting fixture.

Cheers,

Buck

 

[Dave44]

On a similar thread I have seen that there were newer ones(early 20 century?) for curtain and hem weights that had obvious manufacturing marks, a circle that was the cutoff of manufacturing processing.

Makes sense to me, I have found maybe 30 of them, and some of them do have this mark. Still,, I like finding them, I think most are civil war era, but technology still kept these going till the 1920s I guess?

 

[fever87]

Just found my first hem/coat/curtain weight in a downtown Norfolk, VA park. That, a 3-ringer, and over $4 in change of which nothing was older than 1970! I'm glad to at least know what the heck the thing is as I was puzzled by finding what appeared to be a lead button.