Any info on this group of old metal? Was told it was from Atocha.

[runningafever]

I purchased this small box of rusty metal from an elderly womans estate new Tampa Fl. She told me that the "stuff" came from the Atocha and was given to her late husband years ago by Mel.

Is there anything in this group that stands out to you experts?

Thanks for any insight.

 

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[Mackaydon]

Who knows where it really came from?
A letter from Mel along with he holding this stuff would certainly add value to this collection.
What are the diameters (in mm) of the two round objects?
Is one of those diameters the same as the diameter of 'circles' as shown on the largest piece?
Don. ...

 

[runningafever]

I can't upload pics from my phone but will when I get back to work from lunch. The small ball weight 3.79 ounces and is about 1 1/4 inches diameter. The large ball is 1 lb 14 oz and is about 2 1/2 inches diameter.

The small ball rests nicely in the larger piece with the circles but there is not enough room between the circles for more than one of them to sit.

I'll post more pics in about an hour. Thanks.

 

[runningafever]

 

[Mackaydon]

I was hoping it was a disc, as in coin, versus a ball.
In the spot aerial pic, I couldn't determine height; now I see it.
Thanks; and now I have absolutely no idea what it is.
Don...

 

[Trez]

I was thinking remnants of canister shot? photo top right
also maybe some old barrel hoops, RR spike? all guess's
http://www.thepirateking.com/historical/cannon_projectiles.htm
scroll right side to canister shot.
http://www.thepirateking.com/images/cannon_cannistershot.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/MHS_cannister_shot.jpg

almost look more 1800s. Not sure if Atocha.

Just a thought...shot in the dark but look more 1800s than 1600s

Trez

 

[Donovan]

The large items in the center of your pics have the same type of encrustation as the Atocha. They appear to be barrel hoop fragments. Most of the other items seem to be from other sources. The spikes look like they are from a railroad. The cannon balls don't seem to be Atocha since they appear to be seamless and the wrong size. This just looks like a miscellaneous collection from various sources.
Many pieces of Atocha encrustation were discarded by the State of Florida Conservation Dept. prior to the 1975 division. Pieces of encrustation were also sold in the gift shop on Mel's old replica Galleon. Canister shot from Atocha had wooden pallets not like the metal object in the pics. While the shot itself was made of lead. The best canister shot example in on display at the Key West Museum.

 

[runningafever]

The three pieces in the center are pieces of the same item as they all fit together but have split apart over the years. The spike does appear to be a railroad spike however, it is a fraction of the size of a railroad spike that I am used to. The circles on the metal piece are on both front and back, when I first saw them I wondered if someone had popped cobs of off the piece??

 

[Donovan]

I think those pieces are Atocha discards and the rest of the stuff is from the 19th century.

 

[Mud Skipper]

I think those pieces are Atocha discards and the rest of the stuff is from the 19th century.

Donovan should know he is one of the most knowledgeable guys on this forum, in fact his photos are insane - splooshh

 

[runningafever]

Here are some better pictures of the pieces in question. The 3 pieces are actually one piece that has come apart. here is what the pieces together look like. I don't think its a band. Any other ideas??

View attachment 20131229_051605.jpgView attachment 20131229_051631.jpg

 

[runningafever]

The upload of the pictures doesn't seem to be working. Another attempt here.

View attachment 920225View attachment 920231View attachment 920226

 

[LM]

Any artifact/s that rely on provenance are worth their lowest value as random, unattributed objects without some sort of credible documentation as to where they came from.

The old joke at the Antiques Roadshow gun appraisal table is that half the Colt Single Action Armies brought in are elaborately attributed to the same three people- Buffalo Bill, Billy the Kid or Jesse James- per the deceased relative who used to own it and never told a lie in his or her life.

Entirely possible it *is* random Atocha rummage but without something to document that, it's rusty old grapeshot and encrusted scraps of metal.