i769 cast brass cabinet hinge

[Almy]

After several tries, I received permission to hunt the lot of a Loyalist or just post-Loyalist (1790s) house slated for demolition. I found that most of the yard was relatively new fill, probably from a basement improvement. But there was one place with old soil and a few brick and pottery pieces. I found part of an oil lamp (probably from the late 1800s) and a button from the same era there. Then I found the pictured hinge. Imagine my surprise to see a date on it when I got it home and cleaned off! I have never seen such an ornate hinge nor a dated one. The date is well done, as if it was a regular thing. Anyone seen anything similar?

 

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[OWK]

Stylistically, this piece looks like it is more Victorian than Colonial.

Perhaps the 1769 is a mold number?

 

[gunsil]

The number isn't a date it was made, it is a pattern number. Lack of corrosion seems to indicate it hasn't been in the ground too long.

 

[Davers]

If it's Real Old Or not ( I agree its likely not a year stamp) ,I still like to find such undamaged pieces .

Maybe you can hit it again after the demo?

good luck ---Davers

 

[stefen]

Regardless of age, still a nice find...

 

[vpnavy]

Nice find! Thanks for sharing...

 

[Almy]

1769

Thank you for the kind and informative comments. Style would seem to trump the number. The number is very well done, similar to a coin's number, so it must have been a regular part of the hinge-making. I wonder about the number - it must be a part number rather than a serial number but there could not be over 1000 different parts on a cabinet so perhaps it has some other meaning.

I am posting photos of the 2 steel screws found in the hinge. The hinge pin is also steel.

I am also posting an iron-backed, looped button and a piece of what appears to be an oil lamp found in proximity to the hinge. Dietz was a lamp-making company in the US for many years but this one says Toronto, so it may be an ancillary factory. I am guessing that these artifacts are late 19th century.

 

[CRUSADER]

Agreed with others, its 19th C.

 

[Argentium]

Beautiful hinge - will look fine spiffed up in a display case !