Silver In The Cup Holder & Other Things

[Jarl]

Hello all,

Was on a work errand en route to the main office with a coworker. As usual, he always has a cup holder full of change...and I ask to go through it...you know you do it too. Found a '64 Roosie and '63 Canadian Cent. Getting a pile of those Canadian cents.

I just did some digging in the front yard in the AM darkness. Got a lump of clad as you can see. One pile is from last weekend. Managed to find another of those 'numbered tacks' ... 13 this time instead of 31. Pulled that cool bottle opener out near the front porch. Never heard of Luxus beer before...but apparently I like it and so do you. - ? - The Master lock key has a cool lion on it. Just has 219 stamped on opposite and says Master Lock Co., Milwaukee etc.

Also pictured is the marble I found in the basement rafters while conducting a little basement archeology. I didn't picture the old pipe wrench I found up there but, it's pretty old.

Last thing, the pocket utility knife was found just after the 4th down by where i work. I figured I better trace the alleys, curb pits and sidewalks after all that reeling and revelry...when people are in happy, tipsy and busy droves they drop things...

That is all. Hope you're all finding the good stuff out there.

~ Jarl

 

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[1942 merc]

Marble . The number tack things were used for wooden window screens at winter time so you would know what screen went back where .The master lock key is from the 30s . I found one the other day .

 

[Jarl]

Thanks 1942 merc. That would make sense on the key...this house was built in the 20s. The cold cellar dumbwaiter is still there but decommissioned. Cabinet has been fastened still and the pulley rope removed...pulley still there however.

 

[washingtonian]

That's fun! That was nice of your coworker to let you look through the change. I'm glad it was fruitful!

 

[A2coins]

He won't want you riding in his car again lol cool finds

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Marble . The number tack things were used for wooden window screens at winter time so you would know what screen went back where .The master lock key is from the 30s . I found one the other day .

Sounds like a good use, but I've always been told those were "date nails" used on the wooden railroad structures.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Cool bottle opener!

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Jarl]

I have heard both...I hate to say 'theories' ... possibly both are correct in different contexts...I don't know myself. However, where I live...there are plenty of windows, lol, but also very near-by rails. The nearest one has been out of commission for years but I am guessing by it's parallel to and crossing of the main thoroughfare, was probably a very early main route. Quite some history I have read about this particular city being at competitive odds with the 'now since' incorporated larger metro area. In this county were several small towns that all eventually merged over time. I'll look into this number tack issue sooner than later.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datenail
https://www.rta.org/assets/docs/Other/date%20nail%20history%20cohs.pdf

Here's my theory...these date nails were produced in large quantities. Any unsold stock would become relatively useless each year if they were only sold to r/r tie treatment plants. Kind of a niche market. I'm sure these manufacturing companies tried to find uses for surplus stock.

Numbering custom size windows makes sense as a good use for numbered nails.

 

[Jarl]

IMAUDIGGER, thanks for the info. Looks like what I have with one difference...the shanks on mine do not look like those pictured examples at all. They are short and have no grooves on them at all. They seem more like 'tacks' to me.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Sounds like a good use, but I've always been told those were "date nails" used on the wooden railroad structures.

They were also date nails used on telephone poles in the year they were inspected. Now we know them as the aluminum tags you see on the poles. They did have a few uses. The two I have found came out of poles laying along side railroad tracks. Nice finds Jarl. I like that bottle opener also.