Brass clam, first novelty token, 3rd skeleton key, winder?

pa-dirt_nc-sand

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Took a lunchtime walk through an area of woods adjacent to long defunct trolley tracks.

3 old homesites demolished in the last 10 years due to a new exit off the highway. Found most items in overgrown driveway gravel.
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This may be a first find for Tnet, a 2" brass clam!! Weird find.
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At first I thought this was a transit token for the old trolley line, but then I figured out it is an old novelty token machine item. I think it says Willy Small Class of 1057. I think old Willy miss typed 1957. FYI, I don't recommend googling "Willy Small" at work.
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At first I thought this was a broken skeleton key, but after cleaning it looks like some kind of winding key? Any other ideas?
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Here's all the loot from the quick hunt. My 3rd skeleton key of the year. Last year zero?? There has to be more stuff here and I still have one homesite to scout out.

Good luck out there!
 

Upvote 11
Congrats on digging some neat finds. the token is a good luck token that you could stamp yourself at fairs and such.
 

Is the clam heavy ? maybe functioned as a paper weight ?
 

Yep, it is very heavy. I think you are correct on paper weight. They should have made these from 14k gold instead...
 

A brass clam? Just when you think you've seen it all! Pretty cool find to top off a nice hunt. Congrats.
 

Looks like you found a good spot and a cool brass clam! :icon_thumleft:
 

Very interesting finds congrats on a good hunt
 

"FYI, I don't recommend googling "Willy Small" at work." LOL!
oh my.webp

Congrats on a great hunt. The brass clam is a very cool relic. Don't see those everyday! Sub 8-)
 

Im a malacologist and a real big fan of he brass clam!!
 

I believe that's a clock/watch winder. That one is a bit different than the usual ones they find, but if it has a square hole in the end of it, then I would go with watch winder.

Very nice finds! I'm a skeleton key guy, so that's the treasure for me.

Well played sir!
 

The part that you think is a winder has threads inside.
I think it might be for a gas lamp or topper to hold the shade on a regular lamp.
 

I've dug a lot of clams, but never a brass one! Good find!!!
 

I checked the "winder" and it does have threads, but I think it is reverse threaded?
 

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