Mine camp brass whatzit

[relic lover]

here's another whatzit from the 1910 mining camp ghost town. it's non-magnetic (brass I think) there is no modern junk here so it has to be a period piece. it is hollow and the hole goes all the way through. My only guess is part of an old carbide lamp

 

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[dg39]

I would guess the top of an old c. lamp.

 

[PBK]

Top of a miner's oil lamp.

 

[nhbenz]

Sounds like a nice site you've found Relic lover... oh, and PBK, if you're not careful I'm going to start referring to you as Yoda again.

 

[relic lover]

Thanks! I'll search for the rest of the lamp tomorrow!

 

[romeo-1]

Another positive ID by PBK!

There should be a forum on this site titled "Ask PBK"...c'mon moderators...get it goin'!

 

[PBK]

What say we just call it "What Is It?" and all keep pitchin'!

 

[Michelle]

:P :P 8)

 

[hasbeen]

It appears to be the lid of the water compartment from a carbide lamp.

hasbeen

 

[PBK]

I thought maybe Hasbeen was right after all, since I'd ignored the size of Relic Lover's find in the photo with the quarter— not exactly a minor (or miner!) detail. However, doublechecking the description of the oil lamp I posted, I find that, "It measures about 3-1/4" tall and is 1-3/4 wide at the base." Since a quarter's a tad under 1" and the lid's a tad smaller than the quarter, that would seem to be in line with the dimensions of the oil lamp.

So, I guess I'll stick with my original ID.


In fairness to Hasbeen, though, it's pretty similar to some of the carbide lamp lids, too, as shown below:



Either way, "miner's lamp lid" ought to put a lid on it.

 

[TreasureTales]

PBK, not only are you a wizard at finding info, but you are also a gifted punster. Nothing like a good pun! You are truly a punny information master. Good on ya!!!

Relic Lover: Did the rest of the item ever get found? I'd like to know, please. By the way, I love relics, too...so much history, so much intrigue.

 

[relic lover]

no lamp yet, I searched sunday I did find 4 more tool check tags from the same cellar hole which is 1/2 filled in Plus I found another real nice deep foundation not filled in deeper in the woods more like a house than another shack but it was getting dark, can't wait to go back I am just getting started on this site. I am lucky there are at least 5 ghost towns within 5 miles of my remote mountain home I ride my quad to this one.

 

[TreasureTales]

no lamp yet, I searched sunday I did find 4 more tool check tags from the same cellar hole which is 1/2 filled in Plus I found another real nice deep foundation not filled in deeper in the woods more like a house than another shack but it was getting dark, can't wait to go back I am just getting started on this site. I am lucky there are at least 5 ghost towns within 5 miles of my remote mountain home I ride my quad to this one.

Ghost towns, I LOVE THEM!!!! How cool that you live so close to 5 of them. Good luck with your hunts. I hope you'll keep us up-to-date on your finds, whatever they may be.

 

[relic lover]

relic lover, Sounds like we've been hunting very similar sites. I
have'nt had much luck with the residents cellar holes, but have found
quite a few old coins in front of what was the bath/shower house, if
you can find that building.

I hit the site for 3 hrs. last sunday and am still coinless these men diddent get much pay after there rent and company store bill were subtracted from there pay I found a list of names and dates for the miners of this town online of the 200+ miners most only worked there a year or less conditions had to be poor. Just like the song 16 tons they owed there souls to the company store...sad. p.s. thanks for the tip about the showers finding it could be tough though I gurss it would be found near running water