✅ SOLVED 1850s HOME SITE - METAL LABEL, BUT IT'S BACKWARDS

[Natman]

Hi friends, I was at an old home site today and dug this...the writing on it is backwards. Nothing is written on the other side. It measures 1-1/4" by 2-3/4".

With the aid of my computer I had the image flipped so it's easier to read. Any help appreciated!

 

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[Noah_D]

Maybe a printing plate?

 

[A2coins]

Stamp or printing block I agree

 

[mdmike]

Definietly a printing block... take a sharpie and wet it up good and see if you can get a decent print... CLEAN KETTLE COOKERY seems pretty obscure and didnt see anything about it. Is that the town on the last line?

 

[ArfieBoy]

When I was in high school (back in the mid-1960's) I worked in my small home town newspaper office pouring lead mats for printing ads, etc. for the paper. They came out backward just like this plate, then were arranged in the form to print on the press. I'm sure that is what this item is, but who knows what vintage!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Search old newspaper archives since thats a printing plate. I dont know how to do it but Bramblefind used to make all kinds of impressive IDs this way. She may have been using an ancestry site. https://go.newspapers.com/results.php?query="CLEAN+KETTLE+COOKERY"

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

Orange Lemon jelly better than marmalade, probably a print block for making a labels for that product

 

[Noah_D]

I agree that it was to make a label. I couldn't find the label earlier but I think I will try Bigcypresshunter's suggestion... later I'll try and get into newspapers... I am pretty sure I have access to it.

 

[ArfieBoy]

Orange Lemon jelly better than marmalade, probably a print block for making a labels for that product

That orange lemon jelly sounds kind of good! I'd like to try it!

 

[Noah_D]

I agree that it was to make a label. I couldn't find the label earlier but I think I will try Bigcypresshunter's suggestion... later I'll try and get into newspapers... I am pretty sure I have access to it.

I guess I don't actually have Newspapers. Oh well, maybe someone else can help.

 

[Natman]

Thanks everyone for your input. The "company" name may be local or something made up by someone who had a small business making jelly. The house was built in the mid-1800s so it really is cool thinking it may have been sold by someone who owned the house years ago, or maybe there was a small store there years ago (the house is on the corner near a busy street and the lot behind it is empty).

 

[Noah_D]

Thanks everyone for your input. The "company" name may be local or something made up by someone who had a small business making jelly. The house was built in the mid-1800s so it really is cool thinking it may have been sold by someone who owned the house years ago, or maybe there was a small store there years ago (the house is on the corner near a busy street and the lot behind it is empty).

Check out historicmapworks.com and the library of congress for old maps... the old county atlases showed each house and usually labeled stores and things.