✅ SOLVED button? or ???

[WHADIFIND]

Nonmagnetic, kinda thick.
Area dates to well before 1800

Any thoughts?

 

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[G.A.P.metal]

No idea !

 

[creskol]

Cap off of a survey marker?

 

[fyrffytr1]

Several people have posted these E "buttons" but no one that I know of has been able to ID them.

 

[Icewing]

Looks like freeze plug to me.
The only thing I can think of that the E could be is if it came in an engine rebuild kit with multiple sizes for different ports.
I really hope it turns out to be something way cooler though.

 

[trdking]

Looks like freeze plug to me.
The only thing I can think of that the E could be is if it came in an engine rebuild kit with multiple sizes for different ports.
I really hope it turns out to be something way cooler though.

I think you nailed it. It really looks like a freeze plug

 

[fyrffytr1]

I have never seen a freeze plug shaped like that, nor could I find an image of one on the internet. All the freeze plugs I have seen have a relatively wide shoulder and a flat bottom. I am not saying it definitely isn't one, just that I have never seen one like it. If someone could post a picture of one like it I would appreciate it.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Thanks folks! A freeze plug seems feasible but, like fyrffytr1 said, I've never seen one quite like this. Although it is domed, that just might be because it got pushed out of an engine under great force. To me, this just seems to substantial to bend perfectly like this. I truly don't have a clue but it seems to me that this was more of a design.

At first I thought button but I can't make out *any* sort of remnant of a stem or even where one was attached. Also, I thought that the "E" was maybe supposed to be seen from the outside of the dome. Like it was stamped inside to cause a relief version on the outside. If you look really close, you can see the "E" on the outside. That might still be the case but, I'm leaning toward not. The way this thing is so thick, it seems that it was inadvertent to come thru like that and that there was quite some little bit of pressure applied to cause the effect. Not like a "stamp" to me but rather a "pressing". If yaknowaddameanvern?

In any case, thanks for the help!

 

[DCMatt]

There is a huge thread from a few years ago about these "E buttons" on the forum. Maybe more than one thread... To my knowledge we have never figured out what these things are.

 

[DCMatt]

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/220391-early-enginners-button.html

 

[DCMatt]

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/296260-button.html

 

[WHADIFIND]

There is a huge thread from a few years ago about these "E buttons" on the forum. Maybe more than one thread... To my knowledge we have never figured out what these things are.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/220391-early-enginners-button.html

Thanks DCMatt, I didn't know this was a long standing issue! But, it seems I just added a new wrinkle. This thing doesn't look like any of those, does it.

Fascinating hobby! Ain't it!? LOL

 

[Icewing]

I have never seen a freeze plug shaped like that, nor could I find an image of one on the internet. All the freeze plugs I have seen have a relatively wide shoulder and a flat bottom. I am not saying it definitely isn't one, just that I have never seen one like it. If someone could post a picture of one like it I would appreciate it.

They are made with that dome shape. They are also sometimes called expansion plugs because when you hammer them in the dome flattens out to create a seal and hold the plug in place.

Look here:
https://m.ebay.com/itm/261954232856?_mwBanner=1

 

[DCMatt]

I'm sure I've said this in some of the other threads, but it bears repeating.


So many of these things have been found that they must have been a commonly used item over the last 100+ years. Many of them have a pry mark on one edge but some don't.


I keep going back to it being the cap off a tube used for regular maintenance of farm equipment - like grease or spark-plug or ...


But I can't prove it. How can you research something when you can't figure out what it was called back then?


Frustrating...

 

[1320]

Looks like a small engine carburetor Welch plug.

 

[steve_rowlands]

Hi Guys I'm new here and have just recently started detecting and I'm hooked. I didn't want to start a new thread for what is most probably junk.
I found what ifink is a old button but I'm not sure, any information would be great.

This was found in Hertfordshire england.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[Batch]

Thank you 1320! Welch plug is the name we've been searching for! They originated in the early 1900's...here is a brief history from a family member of one of the inventors. I will email them to see if this item is an item they recognize as a Welch plug and any significance of the "E" stamp (I am guessing size designation). Maybe we are on the trail of solving a long-standing mystery <fingers crossed>.

Respectfully,

Batch

UPDATE - email sent with request for assistance.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Thanks for all the help folks! This thing is most probably a freeze plug or as DCMatt points out, some sort of cap off a tool.

The things that still confuse me just a bit are the size of it and the material. It's not brass, nor aluminum. It's completely non-magnetic so....stainless steel?

It seems fairly sturdy but for my experience, it seems a bit too flimsy for a freeze plug. Also, it's only 15/16 th's across. Kinda small. Marked with a strange looking letter "E"?

I'm hearing that we've found a lot of these and although I can't find a post with this exact style. I'm figuring pretty modern something or other.

In any case, I'm ready to call this done. If somebody can link me to one other like it on here.
Icewing's is the closest I've seen.

Thanks again!

 

[Icewing]

Here's more info:

Definition: Concave expansion plugs are inexpensive, efficient, and are a permanent method of sealing manufactured holes in castings or other processes. These are good for use in limited space (depth) holes, but do require a counterbored hole to locate properly.

Alternate Definition: Concave expansion plugs can be steel stamped and used as a nameplate for identification.

Concave (Welch Style) Expansion Plugs are available in the following materials and finishes:

Aluminum: Anodize, Cadmium types I & II, Degreasing, Bright Nickel, Pickling, Silver, Bright Tin, Hot Tin Dip, Zinc types I & II
Brass: Black Oxide, Cadmium types I & II, Degreasing, Bright Nickel, Pickling, Silver, Bright Tin, Hot Tin Dip, and Zinc types I & II
Cold Rolled Steel (Steel): Black Oxide, Cadmium types I & II, Chrome, Degreasing, Bright Nickel, Pickling, Phosphate, Silver, Bright Tin, Hot Tin Dip, and Zinc types I & II
Stainless Steel: Black Oxide, Cadmium types I & II, Chrome, Degreasing, Bright Nickel, Pickling, Phosphate, Silver, Bright Tin, Hot Tin Dip, and Zinc types I & II
Stainless Steel 301-304: Black Oxide, Cadmium types I & II, Chrome, Degreasing, Bright Nickel, Pickling, Phosphate, Silver, Bright Tin, Hot Tin Dip, and Zinc types I & II

https://www.seastrom-mfg.com/expansion_plugs.aspx

 

[Batch]

And here is the reply direct from the originators of the "Welch" plug...

__________________________begin quote_____________________________

Good Afternoon,

The part in your picture is not a Welch Plug – the edges are turned in as opposed to parallel with each other.
I am not sure what the “E” refers to – if you ever find one of our plugs the trademark will be a letter “H” in a triangle or “HUBBARD” with the Welch “W” below it in a triangle – both will be on the other side of the part from the “E” on the part in your picture.

Our trademark is on the home page of our web site – upper right hand corner I believe.

Good luck and happy hunting!


Best Regards,

Nevin Hubbard
M.D. Hubbard Spring Co., Inc.

__________________________end quote_____________________________

Wonderfully fast customer service...less than 1-hour from me hitting "send" button to a personal reply in my inbox! Their homepage is http://www.hubbardspring.com and this is their logo as mentioned in his reply.

By the way, I did send all three of the OP's photos to hopefully give the best chance of ID. Well, at least we know what all the ones marked with an "E" are not!

Respectfully,

Batch