Several items to ID and info needed

[gary s fl]

-All the items were found locally except for first the item with the taps folded down. That was found in an old city along the Ohio river. It looks like it may have had an image or an Indian stamped on it. Very hard to make out. How would it have been used or worn? The back is flat without any markings.
-How would the two tags have been used? Probably early-mid 1900s.
-The iron thing had some type of plating. The iron boot was found along with other metal military figurines. Does the boot look military or something an Indian or mountain man might have worn?
-Does the pendant's design have significance or was it just another ornate piece of Victorian era costume jewelry? There may have been a stone or piece of glass that was mounted in the rear.
-The oriental theme pendant probably had something mounted in the middle. It looks like a T & C are stamped on the second level of the bldg. Do the dragons heads have any significance?
Thanks.

[taz42o]

Your first item is a picture rail hook.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Antique-...6425%26ps%3D54

The tags are key return tags so that you get back your lost keys.

The oriental item is not marked TC, but is Japanese writting . Probably makers mark there are 4 that I see.

[ffuries]

The tags are for attaching to keys, so if found they can be returned. 4th Item a cash register or type writer button?

Mike
USAF Retired

[worldtalker]

Gary, That broach is a Beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless HH Chris

[Mackaydon]

Here's what's at the Gary Ave. location today: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&cp...ed=0CB4Q8gEwAA

(Click on the icon in the pic.)

[gary s fl]

Taz, you nailed the picture rail hook. I never knew something like that existed. Had you found one before?
Here's a link showing a few examples. http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot....ure-rails.html
Your right about the marks not being letters. Poor wording on my part.

Mike, I think your right on the 4th item. As for the 'key return tags' it's strange that neither had a key/keys attached. I wonder if the tags had another purpose.

Chris, thanks, it was the only item worth bring home that day. The broach looks stamped and probably was inexpensive even back then, but it does have an unsual design. The iron/clay content in the ground here really does a number on relics and coins, and makes them very difficult to clean.
Gary

[flinthunter]

The rusted piece that you are holding in your fingers is a hammer off of a cast iron cap gun.

[BosnMate]

I agree with it being the hammer off a cap gun. I had one when I was a kid. Back then (late 40's) they didn't sell all caps in rolls, there were some that were sold in flat sheets, and the explosive dome part had perforations around it, which when ripped out, left enough paper that the cap supposedly would be pressed in and stay in the cup until fired. As I recollect, it didn't work all that well, the caps fell out a lot, and it was also a single shot, while the other kids had rolls of caps, so I was out gunned. It's bringing back memories, but that's a different story.

[gary s fl]

Thanks guys. I think this one can be marked solved.

[High Plains Digger]

I have several of the key tag thingies, one for a house in the town I live in. In fact, 2 houses up from a house I own. Big Cy has a catalogue that offers several types of these for a quarter. Mine is just like yours. From the catalogue, they do appear to be lost key fobs, but one would have to ask about security. Apparently one did because later they were numbered with "drop in any mail box guaranteed postage". Then later on, the Veterans or Disabled Veterans started making the mini license plates with the same phrase. Those both offered better security. I have some in the 60s that were of whatever material with a see through pane and a metal frame. Later on they were just plastic stamped and inked. I don't know if there is anyone that does this today. The disabled Vets send out return labels..

[gary s fl]

Thanks High Plains. I don't doubt the oval items were used as key fobs but I'm not 100% convinced there wasn't another purpose because I can't see any wear marks or scratches on either side of either one unless both were lost before they were used much. Perhaps they were used like serial number tags and screwed to items of value to mark ownership.