WATCH AND CLOCK MAKERS PRINTING PLATE..SOLVED BY DCMATT AND CURIOUS THE GEORGE!!

[civilman1]

When I get home I have an hour of daylight left Since it's deer hunting season,I split my time.I live on 154 ac. so I had a 1/2 hr. for the MXT and a 1/2 hr. for the Remington Anyway,let me start with I knew excactly what this puppy was when I popped the plug (9").....A mangled pice of brass Seriously,I put it on the recycle bin and left for the bank barn for the last 1/2 hr.Got back and soap and watered it with a soft toothbrush and started revealing bit by bit an engraving that I can't even get a decent image from.....Yet!!!!(stay tuned).It's all hatch marked on the front and as you can see in some of the cleaned picture's some of the detail........Enough said,In the Eye of the Beholder!!!By the way it was found 15ft. from my Block A button!!!

SEE BELOW OR READ FOR THE RIDE TO SEE FAR FROM IT!!!!

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[civilman1]

By the way,the back engraving is written backward's!!!Feel free to decipher

[Bell]

That's pretty awesome congrats! Keep us posted when you figure out what it says. I have a feeling its going to be interesting.

[mainer]

Great find. I hope someone can decipher that for you.

[ynpto804]

Awesome relic Militia Plate I would guess and Im sure confederate. You should try to read it in a mirror. That might make it easier to read. I love those clipped corners.
ynp

[Dman]

Nice plate.
Congrats
Dman

[civilman1]

Awesome relic Militia Plate I would guess and Im sure confederate. You should try to read it in a mirror. That might make it easier to read. I love those clipped corners.
ynp

I've got a few piece's already deciphred,just need the rest.Front is awesome

[creskol]

That's a beauty, Joe! Great find! I sent you a PM

[civilman1]

Thank You Rob,you were the first one I thought of to tell you the truth!

[civilman1]

Nice find Joe. In many cases, plates engraved with backward printing are associated with printing. Go figure?? Don't try to shoot a buck with your detector-LOL WTG, Quindy.

My Detector is alway's loaded Quindy Thank's,4 Doe on the fence line tonight,bit too far!!

[civilman1]

That's a beauty, Joe! Great find! I sent you a PM

Never got it Rob

[Hutch911]

Great find Joe Congrats that is sweet!!!!!

[civilman1]

Thank's Bud

[Born Free]

Nice find! Moral of that story -- don't throw anything away till you know what it is.


Born Free

[Getty]

Nice find Joe. In many cases, plates engraved with backward printing are associated with printing. Go figure?? Don't try to shoot a buck with your detector-LOL WTG, Quindy.

I sometimes wonder if he has the rifle/detector mounted together. LOL Incredible recovery there Joe!!! Its just as you described. It Is An Awesome Piece to say the least, I cant wait to see it in person. Congrats to you buddy!!!

[MiniMe]

Ok, I give up....it's driving me crazy . I've flipped, stretched, zoomed, inverted color, and gone down to individual pixels so many times trying to figure this one out that my eyes are crossed.. I've figured out one word....that's it!...just one!!!!! It's such a beautiful piece and to know it's personalized makes it even more exciting. So very AWESOME!!!! With better pictures, I'd bet it would make Banner!!!

[Steve in PA]

Joe, you may have found a pre war clipped corner Virginia Militia beltplate. I believe they date to the 1850's. They, along with the oval shoulder belt plate that went with the uniform, were poorly constructed and the attachment devices were just soldered on and came off easily. I found one of the oval shoulder belt plates down near Richmond some years ago. It had two solder marks on the back where the pin attached. It also had a makers stamp in the back "Smith & Sons, New York" I believe it was, but may have been Smith & Co, New York.

Here is an example. It says they are commonly found without the attachment devices.
http://www.rulen.com/civilwar/ata1089.htm

[Neil in West Jersey]

You may want to try a pencil rubbing to bring out the detail in it. This is the method used to read faded and worn tombstones.

Place a blank piece of paper (white is typically best) over the image to be transferred. You can use masking tape to hold the paper in place without damaging the object. Hold the pencil at about a 20-degree angle or less, so that the exposed lead (not just the tip) is against the paper. Rub vigorously. Focus on dark lines as the image appears, to help the clarity of the image. The rubbing will be complete when you are satisfied with the darkness and shading of the image.

[Curious The George]

If the lettering is backwards then it is an engraved copper printing plate, not a belt plate.

[MaineRelic]

Thats a great relic Civilman My hats off to you Nice piece off history Would display great in a frame with the history of the find and translation of all the inscriptions . M.R.