Big Crotal Bell, Harmonica madness!!!

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Couple handfuls from lunch Hunts this week. First the rant. These are becoming my "pulltab" of the old farm woods. (As I have decided to disc. most shotgun shell ends...) These are harmonica reeds. Ring pretty high and distinct on my detector. The old farmers must of loved their harmonicas as they are all over W PA.
Here is the handful of keepers. Still trying to get an ID on the sunflower brass thingy.

Good luck out there!

 

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[G.A.P.metal]

All nice finds,like the sunflower very much !

 

[xr7ator]

Ohhh, shotgun shells. Every time I find one it sounds like a gold ring. There are a LOT more shells than rings, but I really like digging up gold so I dig every one of them.

That bell kicks arse! Grats to ya and thanks for posting.

 

[Jaysix]

Awesome crotal bell!!

 

[Steve in PA]

The sunflower is cool. What's the back look like? Is that Crotal complete? I'm also curious about the piece at the tip of your fingers. Can you can provide more pictures of it?

My bucket for scrap brass has lots of those harmonica reed pieces.

 

[kenstein]

The sunflower looks like it could function as a bed-bolt cover, but I would think it would have a smaller screw hole instead of the triangles. Just a thought.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

The sunflower is cool. What's the back look like? Is that Crotal complete? I'm also curious about the piece at the tip of your fingers. Can you can provide more pictures of it?

My bucket for scrap brass has lots of those harmonica reed pieces.

Sunflower seems to be stamped brass. This is a flatware handle, unique designs. And the round stamped brass thingy, no idea.
Crotal is 75%, the attachment point is missing, going back tomorrow to rescan the hole.

 

[Steve in PA]

Weird design on the flatware handle.

This piece is most likely off the top of a lamp. Similar pieces can still be found on lamps today.

 

[dirtlooter]

love that bell, it is one of the biggest that I have seen

 

[trapperart]

Nice assortment of finds congrats

 

[Tpmetal]

I know the pain of shotgun shells, but if you discriminate them you miss allot of good stuff like buttons and such.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

I know the pain of shotgun shells, but if you discriminate them you miss allot of good stuff like buttons and such.

If I'm in a hot spot, pulling relics and coins, I'll dig these mid tones, yes occasionally a flat button or old nickel. If I'm hiking and swinging, I pass on these signals recently.

 

[Tpmetal]

If I'm in a hot spot, pulling relics and coins, I'll dig these mid tones, yes occasionally a flat button or old nickel. If I'm hiking and swinging, I pass on these signals recently.

How do you sleep at night? I'm always so paranoid that ill miss something haha.

 

[sutphin]

DAMN BELL IS STUNNING ,NICE FINDS

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

How do you sleep at night? I'm always so paranoid that ill miss something haha.

I've probably dug 500 old shotgun shell ends this year, so I reached my quota for the year already... Actually flat buttons on my detector ring mid but bounce into zincoln range. Actual nickels, buffs, shield, 3 cent, 2 cent coins ring mid, but are steady. Shotgun shell ends bounce in the mid range and usually are ringing shallow. But shotgun slugs ring up like a silver dime, can't win...

 

[scruggs]

A very nice variety of finds you brought to light!

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

Love the bell! Congrats!

I am with you on shotgun shells. I have been digging a ton this year. I do enjoy researching them to give me a rough date on when people were out there shooting, but that's about it. Unfortunately, they ring up in the 62-66 range on my ATP in the woods I hunt and in my experience, all the "neat and curious finds" are in the 60s, so they all get dug. They don't give any hint as to what they are when they ring up but I've come to let out a sigh and grumble as I say to myself kneeling down, "another shotgun shell". I'm waiting for something nice to pop out instead of another Nitro.

And not to steal your post, but related; I found the largest harmonica reed I have ever encountered last month. It's HUGE! How big was this harmonica? Unfortunately, I dropped it and broke it but that's an average sized ax head and horse shoe next to it. Crazy.

Happy hunting to you!

 

[Tnmountains]

The only thing i like about digging the what we call Ga.buttons (shotgun brass) is in knowing the place is not hunted out. How can a good digger pass on that tone. I would enjoy just one just digging an old bell but my area is not known for them.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

The only thing i like about digging the what we call Ga.buttons (shotgun brass) is in knowing the place is not hunted out. How can a good digger pass on that tone. I would enjoy just one just digging an old bell but my area is not known for them.

For some strange reason 95% of the old shotgun shell ends, maybe in the dirt for 50+ years, are very shallow, like 2" or less. So they are easy to dig and this summer was so wet you could uncover most with your boot. Crotal bells are heavy brass and ring up really sweet and high. They are usually deep (6+ inches) in my area, this is my 5th one this year. I love the designs and patina, one of my favorite lost farm finds.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the beautiful relics!