✅ SOLVED Interesting, can anyone dicipher this?

BenVa68 · Mar 3, 2019

I dug this at my 1800s home permission over the weekend. It appears to be some sort of stamp. The letters are tiny and the piece is broken in two. I believe it is made of lead. Its heavy and non metallic. I put the white paint on it in an attempt to bring out the letters. I think it has the date 1880 on it but i cant figure out the rest. I would love to know what it says and what was its use.

iowamp · Mar 3, 2019

Its a lead linotype using in printing like newspapers

bradyboy · Mar 3, 2019

try the lead pencil rub methods and the read it backwards - imo
Brady

Death&Taxes · Mar 3, 2019

Have someone who knows braille try to read it.

mick56 · Mar 3, 2019

Hold it up to a mirror.

BenVa68 · Mar 3, 2019

My eyes arent very good but ill give the mirror a try.

invent4hir · Mar 3, 2019

If the mirror approach doesn't work for your eyes, bring one of your photos into PowerPoint then reverse it and enlarge. You can also use the sharpen feature and tweak colors to bring out more detail.

A2coins · Mar 4, 2019

That will be cool to see what it says I love mysteries

ARC · Mar 4, 2019

Says "For a good time call Joyce".

(gee I hope your wifes name isn't joyce)

digger460 · Mar 4, 2019

Nice ID! Here's an example:

eman1000 · Mar 4, 2019

I can see the 1880 and something about the Knights Templar ...Yep I'm sure of it

Nice Find!

invent4hir · Mar 4, 2019

invent4hir said:
If the mirror approach doesn't work for your eyes, bring one of your photos into PowerPoint then reverse it and enlarge. You can also use the sharpen feature and tweak colors to bring out more detail.

Also if you have an ink pad, try pressing the slug against that followed by paper. Then use a magnifying glass to read...

Stringtyer · Mar 4, 2019

Nice piece of Linotype. It was made in a large machine that used lead to create the text one line at a time.

If you have not had any luck reading it yet, try putting a piece of paper over it and gently rub it with the edge of a pencil lead ... much like doing a rubbing of a tombstone. That will give you an image that you may be able to read in a mirror.