highnam
Bronze Member
I am a suspender buckle freak, having spent three years in a 1912 burned down R.R. Logging camp I have found dozens suspender buckle sets from this time period...
I recently found a new a new site at a turn of the century cedar shake mill, it's a bit of a hike, but I have had success and today my plan was to search for new hot spots by doing test digs. The shake mill is a trashy area so the test digs are for thoroughly checking an area by removing all the nails looking for clothing related pieces (best indicator of a juicy spot) the day wasn't going great, I missed any sweet spots and kept running into dead ends. I was getting frustrated 5 hours later and decided to try one last spot, after cleaning the leaves and debris away I settled in picking nails handful of dirt at a time. I found a couple wheels from I'm guessing was a piece of furniture and a button with a wee bit o gilt, hoorah! The day wasn't a bust. I was then completely caught off guard by the next item out of the ground...I couldn't believe my eyes, I was staring at a massive suspender buckle, I noticed it was of the style of suspender buckles posted by Tnet members from the late 1800's!
Also interesting is the buckle says "Shirley Brace"....brace is a older term for suspender, so I believe it is late 1800's at least.
I also find interesting a company called "President suspender" made suspenders in "Shirley, Ma" and produced one of the most common suspender buckles found from 1910-1920's....here is an example
the buckle says "Shirley President"
I am curious, If they are related.
Thanks!
I recently found a new a new site at a turn of the century cedar shake mill, it's a bit of a hike, but I have had success and today my plan was to search for new hot spots by doing test digs. The shake mill is a trashy area so the test digs are for thoroughly checking an area by removing all the nails looking for clothing related pieces (best indicator of a juicy spot) the day wasn't going great, I missed any sweet spots and kept running into dead ends. I was getting frustrated 5 hours later and decided to try one last spot, after cleaning the leaves and debris away I settled in picking nails handful of dirt at a time. I found a couple wheels from I'm guessing was a piece of furniture and a button with a wee bit o gilt, hoorah! The day wasn't a bust. I was then completely caught off guard by the next item out of the ground...I couldn't believe my eyes, I was staring at a massive suspender buckle, I noticed it was of the style of suspender buckles posted by Tnet members from the late 1800's!
Also interesting is the buckle says "Shirley Brace"....brace is a older term for suspender, so I believe it is late 1800's at least.
I also find interesting a company called "President suspender" made suspenders in "Shirley, Ma" and produced one of the most common suspender buckles found from 1910-1920's....here is an example
the buckle says "Shirley President"I am curious, If they are related.
Thanks!
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