Dagurreotype/Ambrotype Picture Frame and Other Goodies Found at 1850s Mansion!!

FoxHound0985 · Nov 25, 2007

Hello everyone, I had a chance to get out detecting for a few hours today with my fiance (shrc_chick86) at an 1850s mansion that had just been demolished. Within the first 10 minutes I got a very strong 1c/10c signal near the walkway leading up to where the house once stood. I dug down and hit glass and I didn't think much of it. I kept digging and out popped this very nice looking picture frame for a daguerrotype or ambrotype picture. I also found a strange looking piece of brass with "Spear & Jackson, Sheffield" and a crown on top of a flower with "SJ". After we were done at the 1850s mansion, we headed to another site I knew about but have never had a chance to explore. The very first thing that I found was this "double D" style buckle followed my the old bell and then the "ICE COLD" tag. The bell appears to be much older than anything else that I have found recently, does anyone have any info on this type of bell? Please let me know what you think. Thanks and HH!

Fox

bootybay · Nov 25, 2007

I got a weird feeling on that mansion...you need to go back there and re check it... nice finds too by the way

panzermeyer · Nov 25, 2007

Outstanding finds !!! Keep pounding those site.God Bless and hh..Panz

Evolution · Nov 25, 2007

Looks like a crotal bell. I am unfamiliar with the potential date of this bell but I know it is old and a great find. I haven't been able to find an intact one yet. Just a beat up one..

My guess for a date is mid-1800's.

DCMDer · Nov 26, 2007

Nice recoveries. Spear & Jackson is tool making company from Sheffield, England. They've been around since the 1830s. I found the same brass medallion a few months ago.

cntrydncr1 · Nov 26, 2007

Beautiful bell. That is at the top of my "to find" list. Looks like a great spot.

teverly · Nov 26, 2007

Love those bells....
I have found them in sizes from the one you have up to one almost the size of a softball!!!
I would definately keep working those sites!!!Those are great finds and im sure there are plenty more there.

FoxHound0985 · Nov 27, 2007

bootybay said:
I got a weird feeling on that mansion...you need to go back there and re check it... nice finds too by the way

I will definately be going back to the mansion site. There was a lot of modern junk up there, but I am interested in what is beneith it. There are several out-buildings that were also recently torn down that need to check out.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Take care and HH!

Fox

Kellyco · Nov 27, 2007

Re: Dagurreotype/Ambrotype Picture Frame and Other Goodies Found at 1850s Mansio

The bell is definitely cool, but the picture frame got my attention. I would love to see it restored and put to use,... What a great place to hunt, I can't wait to see what else you dig up!