Early Enginners Button?

cwdigger · Feb 9, 2011

Any ideas on this button it was found more than a mile back in the woods at an early colonial site

IronSpike · Feb 9, 2011

Capt. Brad found one just like it:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,375321.0.html

I'm not convinced that it's a button. It may be from a watch fob or key ring :dontknow:

umrgolf · Feb 9, 2011

Definitely not a button, and not very old.. I've found 3 of them, and given the way they're stamped, early-mid 1900's is my guess... Not to mention that none of the 3 had any evidence of ever having a shank. They were very thin, stamped brass and very similar to modern "punch-outs"

Bigcypresshunter · Feb 9, 2011

I think we need to see the back, but you have me on ignore so you cant read this.

umrgolf · Feb 9, 2011

bigcypresshunter said:
I think we need to see the back, but you have me on ignore so you cant read this.

well he should be able to see this

I've seen others posted, including the 3 ive found, and they all look like the one in the attached link above, stamped, with no shank attachment.

Bigcypresshunter · Feb 9, 2011

Thanks.

I think the ignore is an accident because I dont believe I ever spoke with cwdigger.

This E thing is a mystery.

cwdigger · Feb 9, 2011

umrgolf said:
Definitely not a button, and not very old.. I've found 3 of them, and given the way they're stamped, early-mid 1900's is my guess... Not to mention that none of the 3 had any evidence of ever having a shank. They were very thin, stamped brass and very similar to modern "punch-outs"

Its got to be older than you think, we live in very sandy soil and it takes brass a long time to get that dark green patina on it, capt. brad and sentenial also found one, and just like mine flat buttons and early coins where found at the same site representing that the item may be older than you think, not saying that you are wrong and I appreciate the opinion. There is no evidence of a shank but it could be the front of a two piece. If everyone is finding them then we should try to find out exactly what these really are. And I have no idea how bigcypress got on my ignore list and dont know how to take him off :help:

Bigcypresshunter · Feb 9, 2011

I thought it was a mistake lol.

Go to PROFILE (under the banner). Scroll down to "Ignore user options." There will be an Ignorelist of names. You should be able to add or remove.

I agree if everyone is finding them then we should try to find out exactly what these really are. I suggest to start everyone post their finds front and back side too maybe and we can compare looking for any slight difference or clue.

cwdigger · Feb 9, 2011

bigcypresshunter said:
I thought it was a mistake lol. Go to PROFILE (under the banner). Scroll down to "Ignore user options." There will be an Ignorelist of names. You should be able to add or remove.

I agree if everyone is finding them then we should try to find out exactly what these really are. I suggest to start everyone post their finds front and back side too maybe and we can compare looking for any slight difference or clue.

If the thinkg from alaska can be Id'd then this thing should be no problem

Bigcypresshunter · Feb 9, 2011

Yes we should be able to ID. We need to get everyone involved and the new pics. You notice Piggy posted new pics continuously from all angles to keep up the interest. It was finally put to rest too everyone happy.

umrgolf · Feb 10, 2011

cwdigger said:
umrgolf said:

Definitely not a button, and not very old.. I've found 3 of them, and given the way they're stamped, early-mid 1900's is my guess... Not to mention that none of the 3 had any evidence of ever having a shank. They were very thin, stamped brass and very similar to modern "punch-outs"

Click to expand...

Its got to be older than you think, we live in very sandy soil and it takes brass a long time to get that dark green patina on it, capt. brad and sentenial also found one, and just like mine flat buttons and early coins where found at the same site representing that the item may be older than you think, not saying that you are wrong and I appreciate the opinion. There is no evidence of a shank but it could be the front of a two piece. If everyone is finding them then we should try to find out exactly what these really are. And I have no idea how bigcypress got on my ignore list and dont know how to take him off

Last year I dug a couple hundred pre-CW military buttons and a couple hundred CW buttons and don't think this is a military button of any kind, nor a button front.. I would try to help with the pics but I threw mine away. I used to dig with Sentinel everyday and remember him digging his, and if anything they bring a bit of excitement when you see them :laughing7:

and you may be right about these being older than I think.. I just can't imagine that they served much of any purpose without a shank or hole or pin.. anything.. honestly, when I dug my first one, I thought the exact same thing as you.. hope I didn't throw away 3 keepers here :P

Getty · Feb 10, 2011

Very interesting piece.I dug one of these in Williamsburg, Va. last summer. I did not know what it is but kept it anyway. Would love to see an id on this item.

Bigcypresshunter · Feb 10, 2011

pictures please. we need pictures.

Im moving Capt Brads pictures over from the other thread so we can more easily examine and compare.. I notice that one side has a kink as if it was pryed off. I wonder if they all have the kink and if this is an important clue?

I have a feeling this will be a good thread. Whenever so many members have found the same item, in the same time period, it must be fairly common and IDable..

cwdigger · Feb 10, 2011

I will take some more pics of mine as well shortly, I have spoken with 4 other members on tnet that have not posted here, and one even sent me a pm, all of them said they have found the same thing at sites that date to the 1700's. This one was also found at a very early site. It seems they are found over around 7 different states, so I wonder what it was from :icon_scratch:

daroofa · Feb 10, 2011

Eberhard Manufacturing in Cleveland uses the "E in a circle" logo and they've been around since 1879.

"An 1880's Eberhard saddlery catalog lists dozens of styles and sizes of trace buckles, tug loops, rings, assorted snaffles and bits, and virtually any other metal part used in saddlery and harness manufacure. Vehicle hardware accounted for a far weighteier catalog. Here one could puchase relatively simple goods such as rub irons, clips, and reinforcements of all kinds. Later catalog even grouped the hardware necessary to make a particular type as a further incentive to order Eberhard products...."

The Carriage Trade

"The Eberhard Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Early Eberhard catalogs show a large line of malleable iron castings for carriages and wagons hardware while later ones include automobile and truck castings. Catalogs also show several buggy and other wrench designs in several sizes including the Ideal buggy wrenches and Hill's patent adjustable nut wrenches. The logo is also seen on wrenches made by Eberhard for other manufactures. This logo has often been erroneously connected with one of several Erie, Pennsylvania tool manufactures.
Source: Original Eberhard catalogs and several ads seen with the logo."

Wrenching News

Maybe some sort of decorative/company logo piece off one of their items :dontknow:

Bigcypresshunter · Feb 10, 2011

daroofa said:
Eberhard Manufacturing in Cleveland uses the "E in a circle" logo and they've been around since 1879.

...The logo is also seen on wrenches made by Eberhard for other manufactures.

I think they are found at older sites :dontknow:

but the logo is E in a circle like you said.

cwdigger · Feb 10, 2011

Pics as promised, its kinda of heavy like old brass usally is, not lighweight like modern punch outs you know what I mean, I would weigh it but cant find my scale I will continue to look for the scale and if I find it will get a pic up of the weight

Bigcypresshunter · Feb 10, 2011

Great pics! thanks. I can see now its convex.

cwdigger · Feb 10, 2011

bigcypresshunter said:
Great pics! thanks. I can see now its convex.

just like a button but without a shank?

Don in SJ · Feb 10, 2011

cwdigger said:
bigcypresshunter said:

Great pics! thanks. I can see now its convex.

Click to expand...

just like a button but without a shank?

Just my opinion, but I would rule out a button of any type from what I see in the photos. You might pursue that Eberhard Company lead that daroofa posted, and I read something about before them there was a Empire Plow Company associated(1840 to present), It could be farm equipment related or horse/carriage related to either of those companies, I would pursue that before anything else.

This is interesting since so many have been found, but that makes it being something farm equipment or horse/carriage related even more logical...

Don