Money clip or something else?

[HutSiteDigger]

Dug this in a Civil War camp deep in the ground and @ first I thought it may have been a money clip but I just do not know... Only thing it says on it is Pat appofor?

 

[GpSnoopy]

Pocket Watch Chain, but I'm not 100% sure about the U'shaped part, unless the U can be pushed tight against the watch.

http://www.a-place-in-time.com/apit/448-Triple_Chain_Medallions_Face_Belt_Loop.html

 

[HutSiteDigger]

That is def a possible answer for sure!! It is funny because I have actually been using it as a money clip and it works really good for it but I do not think it was used for a money clip.. Any ideas of Civil War period or post? I found this about 2 feet in the ground but also the camp I found it in was logged in the 1920s and could have been lost that deep. however i did find CW artifacts basically within the same hole digging out a hut.. Have had mixed reviews by other CW hunters two said yes maybe CW and one said no it was post.

 

[DoranHashemi]

Gotta say money clip

 

[HutSiteDigger]

WHOA!! They want 196.00 for that money clip you posted.. wow had no idea.. I do think this is at least 1860-1920 period..

 

[wvwildman]

nice find congrats HH

 

[DoranHashemi]

Most likely it says patent applied for.

 

[GpSnoopy]

I can definitely go along with the money clip as well. I really couldn't find any examples of the "Watch Chain" with a U shaped Clip, and therein lies the issue with sometimes going with the first thing you find on the web, no matter how well the description fits.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I can definitely go along with the money clip as well. I really couldn't find any examples of the "Watch Chain" with a U shaped Clip, and therein lies the issue with sometimes going with the first thing you find on the web, no matter how well the description fits.

Thanks Snoopy for taking the time too help me out! Hope I can do the same for you soon! Good luck..

 

[treasure search]

I believe you have a key holder, one portion that attach to belt the U shape should un hook to attach keys...just a guess

 

[Breezie]

The 'U' shaped piece is a belt clip. Using the belt clip with chain helps to stop pick pockets and/or losing your money in general. The patent is not exactly like yours, but the theory is the same. With the patent date of 1924 in comparison to the design on the money clip, I would say Art Deco era would be a good time line for this piece.

Patent US1490871 - RUPERT A - Google Patents

Really neat find Hut
Breezie

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Wow thanks a lot Breezie.. That does fit the time frame of when logging was taking place in this camp in the early 1920s... Be nice if it was CW period but I will take what I will, I had a deep feeling it was probably from the 1920s!!! But just really odd it was laying in there deep with other CW artifacts within feets...

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Oh BTW when I first found this I thought it was a ID tag.. boy my heart was pumping!

 

[DoranHashemi]

I believe you have a key holder, one portion that attach to belt the U shape should un hook to attach keys...just a guess

Show a pic of that

 

[Breezie]

Wow thanks a lot Breezie.. That does fit the time frame of when logging was taking place in this camp in the early 1920s... Be nice if it was CW period but I will take what I will, I had a deep feeling it was probably from the 1920s!!! But just really odd it was laying in there deep with other CW artifacts within feets...

 

[mical66]

first thing i want to say is how the heck did you clean that thing up so nice hutt ? looks liek it was kept in a box on a shelf or something man,, really i could use the tips on cleaning my stuff,,,lol
also that is a really sweet find, it looks in great shape .
the only way i could think of that they would attach the loop to a belt is the belt be a rope ( poor mans belt ) lol
or they just feed the money clip thru the ring to form a noose around the belt .
or there is a atachment missing ..

 

[taz42o]

I believe you have a key holder, one portion that attach to belt the U shape should un hook to attach keys...just a guess

I agree. I dont think any of these are for watches or money, The part with the design clips to belt the other end for keys.
A pocket watch chain would look like the patent breezie posted and a money clip would not have that big ubolt type thing for a belt.

 

[Breezie]

I agree. I dont think any of these are for watches or money, The part with the design clips to belt the other end for keys.
A pocket watch chain would look like the patent breezie posted and a money clip would not have that big ubolt type thing for a belt.

Taz, the same thought ran through my mind too, but after looking at the patent, the patent date, and thinking about 'keys' in the early turn of the century, I settled in on the "U" as being a belt attachemnt like the patent. If you go to the site Snoopy posted, it says the loop is for 'belt attachment.'

Keys were not so much an issue during the early turn of the century like they are now. People didn't take a ring of keys like today. Cars didn't have ignition keys until around 1938-ish. Cadillac had an early key, but the majority of cars had a crank or starter button. Many houses didn't even have a front door key. A slide bar was placed on the inside of the door after entry. Most keys were to steamer trunks, desk drawers, and keep sake boxes, so having a large ring for keys was not really necessary during the early turn of the century. Jail keys and gate keys were generally on a ring much larger than this one.

Hut, does your "U" open or is it permanent?

Breezie

 

[taz42o]

Breezie,
What turn of the century patent are you talking about The watch chain patent that does not match the item found?
If you notice that the patent you posted and any watch chain you look at has a small teardrop shaped clip for the watch.
I think they [keychains]are all from about the 40s. One posted above says so, and the one with "swank" ,Swank didnt even start until 1927.
Why would you put That large u shape on a watch or a belt? It would be at a right angle to either one , would make no sense on a belt and wouldnt work in a pocket on a watch because you would have two large items at right angles to each other.

http://www.rubylane.com/item/754119-SMT000961/SWANK-Mens-Belt-Hook-Keychain

 

[taz42o]

If you go to the site Snoopy posted, it says the loop is for 'belt attachment'

Breezie

No it does not say that.