Cool find! 1800s jewelers/clock-watch makers embosser?

[granthansen]

Cool find! 1800s jeweler's/clock-watch makers embosser?

NJLargeCent and I were at it again in the heat, back to Mount Holly, NJ for 7 hours in the heat and humidity. Not much other than junk, a wheatie, and NJ's TBD Indian, and some other oddities we still have to identify.

However, during the last-hour stretch, I dug deep and deep, and wouldn't let this signal go as it was ringing up $0.25/$0.10 on my Ace 350. Silver maybe?

About a foot down I pulled out this heavy piece of metal. Saw the flat side first and thought, damn. Then flipped it to see a design. After closer inspection it revealed writing, in reverse type! So it's a stamp or embosser of some time for a clock and watch maker named John Mecke. Last night's research found him in a Philadelphia directory from 1839 under silversmiths: Makers: 1839 Philadelphia Directory

See below pics. I reversed one for easier reading.

Anyone know for sure what this is? If not, I'll post on the What Is It forum. I may hit a jeweler later to ask someone there as well. Very nice design, in great shape too.

Full story and cleaned up pics of all our finds to come this week. I'm a tad tired from yesterday!

 

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[granthansen]

Wow, thanks nov2101. Really appreciate it.

 

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[granthansen]

BTW, speaking of going deep on this... I got my nice high tone and pin pointed. I dug up a rusty nail, which all day for some reason were ringing mid-tone. I thought, Oh well, and then started to fill the hole. Then I remembered, idiot, double check! Ding! High tone. So I dug more, with pro pointer, and dug up another rusty nail. Ug. Completely filled the hole and then remembered, check again!! So I did. Ding! OK, I thought, I'm not letting this go. I'm seven and a half hours in, it's 90-something degrees, and humid. But the day is coming to end end. Go for it... emptied the rather large hole again and pin pointed into the side wall... pushed my shovel into the side wall and plopped this out. I first only saw the flat side, so I was bummed, thinking more scrap metal. Then I flipped it... what the heck is this And you know the rest Oh, and yes, I did rescan. No more dings!

 

[cntrydncr1]

congrats! very cool find!

 

[jewelerguy]

that's cool. looks kinda like a print block to me, but not sure.

 

[granthansen]

Another good article on watch papers: Watch Papers Offer More Than Protection I'll keep you all posted when I talk to the museum tomorrow. Thanks!!

 

[granthansen]

Photos are on their way to the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors museum. Wish me luck!

 

[granthansen]

Just to keep everyone in the loop... I've reached out to the National Association of Watch & Clock Makers museum and various other antique watch/clock authorities. Waiting to hear back from one or all of them. Some are in London, so I figure it may be off hours there and I may hear back this evening. I even tried joining an antique pocket watch forum to post but was denied access. WTF!?

 

[granthansen]

Finding more info, but still waiting to hear back from one of the many experts I've contacted.

Most of the actual watch papers I've found are in museum collections, and are pretty beat up. I've only found one that's on auction, for $5,000 - $7,000, but the artist is Paul Revere, so... but again, these are just the PAPERS! Not the actual plate. Still have my fingers crossed that this has historical significance.

This site has probably the largest collection of papers I've found, and have been in touch and waiting to hear back from their expert. I'm going to go through the images when I have time to see if I can find similar design, and perhaps pinpoint an artist:

public

 

[granthansen]

I hope you all don't mind my updates, but I'm excited... Just got a reply from the American Antiquarian Society... they have a watch paper and engravings expert who will get back to me next week since she's currently putting together an exhibit. Sweet!

 

[Catobra]

No problem! It's ok to be excited-Lord knows I haven't found anything great lately (my trip to the thrifts was very unthrilling yesterday), so I am living vicariously through you (and others at TN) at the moment : )

 

[granthansen]

Sweet!! Just got an email from the American Antiquarian Society, who acknowledged this as a great find! Since they are a research library, they don't have anything on display, but asked if they could include my photos in their research library. Pretty cool. I followed up asking if I should have it professionally cleaned to bring out the quality and take new photos, as it has quite a bit of dirt on it, but since it's an antiquity, I don't dare try it myself.

They gave me a good lead to help me find out more information on the watchmaker, John Mecke. Hopefully more info tomorrow!

 

[nov2101]

You post all you want, super cool. I knew when I saw it , that was darn rare....Justgot that feeling. Keep digging there...

 

[oldsalty19]

 

[SusanMN]

Very, very cool. I would check a genealogy site such as ancestry.com. The name is relatively unique and you have a city of residence so I would expect you might have some luck there

 

[granthansen]

Thanks Susan! I was able to track Mr. Mecke back to an 1839 Philadelphia directory of silversmiths and related craftsmen. Today I'm going to reach out to the Library Company of PA as the antiquities folks suggested they may be a good resource. Stay tuned!

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Hi Grant , dawg here ,, great looking print block from Philadelphia , your one lucky guy , that is a terrific relic !

 

[granthansen]

Thanks CMDiamonddawg! I have my aunt-in-law, who's a retired research librarian and member of ancestry.com doing some additional research for me. She also told me her husband, a property lawyer, often has to review old maps... a good lead for future digs!

 

[granthansen]

A modern snapshot of the area where John Mecke made his watches. I can only imagine how different it was then!

 

[ticm]

A modern snapshot of the area where John Mecke made his watches. I can only imagine how different it was then!

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=662150"/>

Wouldn't you like to see what under all that cement and asphalt.

 

[granthansen]

Ug... so much stuff is probably under there. Sigh.