IRON BRIGADE = 1859 Fatty + General Staff Button and More!

BuckleBoy · Aug 18, 2008

Hello All,

Went out today to hit a new spot. Rodeo Recon, Digger Girl and Buckles were on deck for the hunt. The farmer was kind (although he insisted that there was never a house on the spot in his hay field we wanted to hunt). LOL. He bought the property in 1951--so he thought we were nuts, but said to go ahead.

So we got out there and the very first signal Yours Truly dug was this crusty button which I *suspected* at the time was a fertilizer-destroyed General Staff Officer's button. It was actually much nicer than anticipated! :thumbsup:

The backmark is "Steele & Johnson" Here are the before and after photos. (Aluminum Jelly and about an hour of delicate work required):

After another two flat buttons, Digger Girl came running over with the only coin for the day--an 1859 Fatty IH :thumbsup:

I've found a few CN IH's over the years, but never the first year 1859 (without the shield on the back)--so I was thrilled to see it dug.

Rodeo, DG, and I pounded the spot--and the flat buttons kept coming up, including a small Tombac that Rodeo was pleased with. Here's one of Rodeo's flat buttons in the clod:

And here are RR and DG swinging away with the FEVER:

It was a small spot--and we made short work of it. A decent number of buttons were found, plus a toe tap, a pewter spoon handle, and a suspender clips that the plow had demolished:

And here are the finds after cleaning. Kudos to Rodeo for his restoration of that suspender clip. :thumbsup:

Buckles' Cleaning Tip of the Day: Use hot water to heat suspender clips and thin brass items that need to be bent back into shape. The water should be Scalding Hot--and then gentle steady pressure applied. I've restored dozens of clips this way, and never broken one. This is the same method that Rodeo used.

Here are two of DG's keepers--a beautiful button marked "Woods Robert PHILADa" on the back, and of course the 1859 IH:

Regards,

The IRON Brigade

Fisher. Better than setting the high score on Ms. PacMan.

49er · Aug 18, 2008

Re: Button Harvest = 1859 Fatty + General Staff Button and More!

Nice Button and Indian day... :thumbsup:

Evolution · Aug 18, 2008

Re: Button Harvest = 1859 Fatty + General Staff Button and More!

It's funny how the land owners react sometimes when they aren't aware that a dwelling once stood on the land. They just have a narrow minded point of view sometimes that there couldn't have been anything there simply because they don't remember it. Meanwhile it happened 200+ years before they ever bought the land.

Those are nice finds. I really like the 1859 fatty. :icon_sunny:

The oldest IH I've ever found was an 1864. Glad to know the hot water trick is helpful with restoration. I actuaally broke a suspender clip once even though I was trying to be as delicate as possible. Next time I'll be sure to use this technique. Did you show this landowner your finds after the hunt?

BuckleBoy · Aug 18, 2008

Re: Button Harvest = 1859 Fatty + General Staff Button and More!

Evolution said:
It's funny how the land owners react sometimes when they aren't aware that a dwelling once stood on the land. They just have a narrow minded point of view sometimes that there couldn't have been anything there simply because they don't remember it. Meanwhile it happened 200+ years before they ever bought the land.

Those are nice finds. I really like the 1859 fatty. The oldest IH I've ever found was an 1864. Glad to know the hot water trick is helpful with restoration. I actuaally broke a suspender clip once even though I was trying to be as delicate as possible. Next time I'll be sure to use this technique. Did you show this landowner your finds after the hunt?

Sometimes the owners are insistent that nothing was there--but we always just ask if they mind if we give it a try--and then they seem surprised when we show them the finds.

The earliest IH I've ever found was an 1862, so she's got me beat too. :thumbsup:

I like to keep all the suspender clips for display. I have 30 from this year I think--and we're bound to be at around 50 between all of us... I always bend 'em back, and heating the metal with such hot water works wonders.

Regards,

Buckles

Ohio Jerry · Aug 18, 2008

Buckleboy,those are my kind of treasures!! Great job on the button. Is aluminum jelly safe to use on other items like copper and brass?
Also,thanks for the hot water tip for suspender clips!
Jerry

sonny60 · Aug 18, 2008

great finds WTG

prolab69 · Aug 18, 2008

This may be the buckle you found.

BuckleBoy · Aug 18, 2008

Ohio Jerry said:
Buckleboy,those are my kind of treasures!! Great job on the button. Is aluminum jelly safe to use on other items like copper and brass?
Also,thanks for the hot water tip for suspender clips!
Jerry

I don't use it on coins at all...but it is safe to bring out silver-plated brass or copper. I know diggergirl has used it on silver plated spoons, etc. before. It is the best at gold gilding though.

Regards,

BB

JerV3 · Aug 18, 2008

Those are some nice diggs BB

HH Jer

christ-first · Aug 18, 2008

cool buttons and 1859 fatty is a dream coin of mine. maybe one day :thumbsup:

Colonial Zoyboy · Aug 18, 2008

Buck,

I love it when the landowner doesn't know about the history of their land. It leads them to believe that the datectorist who has asked permission is one heck of a hunter...and rasearcher.

I have dug only one 1859 fatty, and it will be appreciated in my collection forever. Since I will probably not dig another, it will always be welcomed next to the coppas and Spanish wilver.

I love that staff button. You don't see too many of those little buggards being posted in GREAT condition. :thumbsup:

The Iron Brigade is bound to strike another Spanish wilver very soon...and a militia belt plate on its side. :thumbsup:

Kyle

Dman · Aug 18, 2008

Nice finds, Looks like you were getting lost in the grass.
Dman

civilman1 · Aug 18, 2008

What a Team BB.....Sweet Digs......Watch out for Groundhog hunter's.....that "knot" look's a little too inviting

Michigan Badger · Aug 18, 2008

Wow! You are one of the greats in this hobby!

I get all excited if I dig a toy gun

You do detecting like it should be done.

Excellent!

Badger

tymcmurray · Aug 19, 2008

Great hunt!!!!
To bad there was never a house on that sight. LOL

Buckleboys Dad · Aug 19, 2008

Way to go, BB! You seem to have skill in finding sites that "don't exist". Research really pays off! Glad to see you enjoying metal detecting like you do. Also, I am glad you got into this hobby several years ago as a young boy.

BB's Dad

wyattrr · Aug 19, 2008

Wow as usual another stellar hunt...Congrats on all your finds...HH

BuckleBoy · Aug 19, 2008

tymcmurray said:
Great hunt!!!!
To bad there was never a house on that sight. LOL

Yep. Buttons and coin dropped by Earthling Button-Collecting Aliens right down from their mothership as it hovered above that knoll

BuckleBoy · Aug 19, 2008

plehbah said:
I have a soft spot for field recovered staff buttons. They are neat buttons- I like the stout manufacture.

I also enjoy the picture of the happy geiger counter in the happy field. I find myself looking at it and feeling fuzzy.

Nice finds.

That is indeed a "picture" and not a "photo." Bob Ross hallucinated that happy little geiger counter in one of his last fading moments on this happy little earth.

BuckleBoy · Aug 19, 2008

Buckleboys Dad said:
Way to go, BB! You seem to have skill in finding sites that "don't exist". Research really pays off! Glad to see you enjoying metal detecting like you do. Also, I am glad you got into this hobby several years ago as a young boy.

BB's Dad

Good to hear from you, Dad! I hope you'll come to Old Kentucky and metal detect with us soon. Did you order that new Tesoro DeLeon yet?

Thank you so much for helping me get started in this Great hobby.