🔎 UNIDENTIFIED A token I can’t figure out.

[Merf]

Tia for any help. Looks like it was soldered to something

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

Based on the date, it may have something to do with memorializing The Great Chicago Fire?

The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned in the American city of Chicago during October 8 – 10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed 3.3 square miles of the city including over 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 residents homeless. The fire began in a neighbourhood southwest of the city center. An extended period of hot dry windy conditions, and the wooden construction prevalent in the city, led to the conflagration. The fire leapt the south branch of the Chicago River and destroyed much of central Chicago and then leapt the main branch of the river, consuming the Near North Side.

The fire is claimed to have started at about 8:30 p.m. on October 8, in or around a small barn belonging to the O'Leary family that bordered the alley behind 137 DeKoven Street. The shed next to the barn was the first building to be consumed by the fire. City officials never determined the cause of the blaze, but the rapid spread of the fire due to a long drought in that year's summer, high winds from the southwest, and the rapid destruction of the water pumping system, explain the extensive damage of the mainly wooden city structures. There has been much speculation over the years on a single start to the fire. The most popular tale blames Mrs. O'Leary's cow, who allegedly knocked over a lantern; others state that a group of men were gambling inside the barn and knocked over a lantern. Still other speculation suggests that the blaze was related to other fires in the Midwest that day.

 

[pepperj]

It hard to decipher what's actually written on the piece.
W.M.Westlake?
----
--AT--L
OCT.3
CHICAGO

 

[Merf]

Tia for any help. Looks like it was soldered to somethingView attachment 2040642View attachment 2040636View attachment 2040637View attachment 2040638View attachment 2040639

I am thinking that it may not be a token but was soldered to one of the lamps that westlake made in the 1800s

 

[ripvanb]

I am thinking that it may not be a token but was soldered to one of the lamps that westlake made in the 1800s

That would be my guess also.

 

[Mackaydon]

On Oct. 3, 1871, the company was granted three patents; one for a lantern, another for a sprinkler head; and the third for a platform for a stove. I agree the OP's object was probably affixed to one of the patented objects.
Don.....
Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=BlRHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA253&lpg=PA253&dq=Wm.+Westlake+Chicago+Oct.+3+1871&source=bl&ots=dnpvpUQY8s&sig=ACfU3U35AOrQSQfbbuODD03wjXO9uUWySg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjttabV3rr5AhUzK0QIHTCQBSIQ6AF6BAgYEAM#v=onepage&q=Wm. Westlake Chicago Oct. 3 1871&f=false

 

[Merf]

Tia for any help. Looks like it was soldered to somethingView attachment 2040642View attachment 2040636View attachment 2040637View attachment 2040638View attachment 2040639

I am thinking maybe this is not a token but was a tag soldered to one of west lakes products.?..?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

On Oct. 3, 1871, the company was granted three patents; one for a lantern, another for a sprinkler head; and the third for a platform for a stove. I agree the OP's object was probably affixed to one of the patented objects.
Don.....
Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=BlRHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA253&lpg=PA253&dq=Wm.+Westlake+Chicago+Oct.+3+1871&source=bl&ots=dnpvpUQY8s&sig=ACfU3U35AOrQSQfbbuODD03wjXO9uUWySg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjttabV3rr5AhUzK0QIHTCQBSIQ6AF6BAgYEAM#v=onepage&q=Wm. Westlake Chicago Oct. 3 1871&f=false

Yes I agree, William Westlake patent and its most likely one of those three. A patent search might get a lucky hit but I forget how to do it lol and my signal is slow. https://patents.google.com/?inventor=w,+westlake&patents=false&oq=inventor:(w,+westlake)+&page=2

 

[OH..POPS]

Great find my friend. I agree it does look like a tag.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I'm not always been a sharp pencil but let me ask.
Is the W M an abbreviation for the sir name William ?
Great find my friend. I agree it does look like a tag.

I believe so yes.

 

[Bramblefind]

Looking at Don's link to the 1871 patents - Westlake had a "Zinc-board for stoves" March 21 1871 and then the "Platform for stoves" Oct 3 1871., which are the dates on the tag. I don't know if it came off a stove part but it does look to have come off of something. My first guess was a lantern - but now I'm looking at stoves

Anyway - here is another that was posted on Worthpoint. They didn't know what it was either but it sold for $30.24.

Wm. WESTLAKE, CHICAGO, IL TOKEN - 1871 | #503095513

Interesting Chicago piece from the Great Fire period. 25mm in (?) bronze - thought at one time it might be an overstruck 2-cent piece but I don't believe it is. William Westlake was a railroad pioneer

www.worthpoint.com

 

[Bramblefind]

Here's an 1881 Westlake ad with an image of the "stove board" with those patent dates (more dates followed)

 

[Bramblefind]

I missed it the first time! I think this is getting closer - from the ad - maybe the tag is that center disc?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Great research

 

[Merf]

Looking at Don's link to the 1871 patents - Westlake had a "Zinc-board for stoves" March 21 1871 and then the "Platform for stoves" Oct 3 1871., which are the dates on the tag. I don't know if it came off a stove part but it does look to have come off of something. My first guess was a lantern - but now I'm looking at stoves

Anyway - here is another that was posted on Worthpoint. They didn't know what it was either but it sold for $30.24.

Wm. WESTLAKE, CHICAGO, IL TOKEN - 1871 | #503095513

Interesting Chicago piece from the Great Fire period. 25mm in (?) bronze - thought at one time it might be an overstruck 2-cent piece but I don't believe it is. William Westlake was a railroad pioneer

www.worthpoint.com

Thanks Bramble. Great info.

 

[Merf]

Looking at Don's link to the 1871 patents - Westlake had a "Zinc-board for stoves" March 21 1871 and then the "Platform for stoves" Oct 3 1871., which are the dates on the tag. I don't know if it came off a stove part but it does look to have come off of something. My first guess was a lantern - but now I'm looking at stoves

Anyway - here is another that was posted on Worthpoint. They didn't know what it was either but it sold for $30.24.

Wm. WESTLAKE, CHICAGO, IL TOKEN - 1871 | #503095513

Interesting Chicago piece from the Great Fire period. 25mm in (?) bronze - thought at one time it might be an overstruck 2-cent piece but I don't believe it is. William Westlake was a railroad pioneer

www.worthpoint.com

An exact match Bramble. Thanks

 

[Merf]

Tia for any help. Looks like it was soldered to somethingView attachment 2040642View attachment 2040636View attachment 2040637View attachment 2040638View attachment 2040639

Tia for any help. Looks like it was soldered to somethingView attachment 2040642View attachment 2040636View attachment 2040637View attachment 2040638View attachment 2040639

Thanks to all for help on this.