More Finds From The Colonial Schoolhouse Woods, Including A Nice First-Timer

[Brendan M.]

Hello Friends!

Wednesday was absolutely gorgeous here in NY, so of course I hit the woods. I went back to the area where I believe a colonial schoolhouse once stood. I brought Joe G. there last weekend and found two nice old coppers, two Indians, and some other nice goodies (see topic http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,148229.msg1062217.html#msg1062217).

Unfortunately I didn't manage to pull any old coins this time out, save for a chewed up 1951 Wheat, but I did find some nice relics. Some could use IDs, so please have a look. Here's what I dug:

• A musket ball (My first!!!) as well as two items that appear to be bullets (Pictured next to the ball. Never seen these before. What are they?)
• A thick, bracelet-sized brass chain (what would've this been used for?)
• Two old flat buttons. Both have backmarks: One I can't make out, while the other says, "Gold Color"
• A piece of silver-plated spoon, seemingly old, stamped "RT," I believe
• A fragment of a crotal bell
• A small penknife-sized whatsit. It's two pieces, and opens with a spring button (Makeup related? It seems to have some reddish, lipstick-like residue inside.) It's stamped with some kind of name or writing, but tough to make out. It looks like "Marinello" or something to that effect.
• A tiny circular brass or copper whatsit with little flowers encircling it. (Any ideas? Looks like a piece of something.)
• 1951 Wheat

Not a great day by any means, but not horrible either. For me, the musket ball alone was worth getting out. Never handled one before. Man, I wouldn't have liked to have been clipped with one of those!

Thanks for looking. Stay tuned for more.

Cheers and HH,
Brendan

 

[CRUSADER]

Your whatszit is a cica 1920s lipstick tube.

 

[Brendan M.]

Your whatszit is a cica 1920s lipstick tube.

Sweet. Thanks!!!!

 

[ModernMiner]

Some neat old finds "B".
Those two items in you first picture next to the musketball look like masonary anchors that you tap into the hole before you screw the bolt in. I could be wrong of course.
I think Ty just posted one of those lipstick tubes too. Very cool.
-MM-

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Nice digs!! The brass chain is a Civil War era bit chain.. standard Union issue.. I have bits a pieces of them from different camps but none intact.. very nice...

MonkeyBoy

 

[tymcmurray]

I did just find one in the floorboards of an old house.
looks like you finds were well worth the trip!!!

 

[kldrawdy]

The chain is a curb chain from a horse's bridle, hooks to either side of the bit and runs under the horse's chin.

 

[CRUSADER]

Forgot, whatzit2 is a watch winder for a fob watch (maybe late Victorian), missing its loop which attached to a chain

 

[bookfisher]

Hi Brendan,

I was also going to let you know that the circular piece is a watch winder. Crusader identified one I found some months back. Nice finds!

 

[allen]

those are cool old finds...

 

[dgaughan]

still looks like a good day any marks on the crotal bell

 

[Evolution]

Relics are as good as coins any day!! Nice finds

 

[treasurefiend]

Awesome!!!

 

[Brendan M.]

Your whatszit is a cica 1920s lipstick tube.

I did just find one in the floorboards of an old house.
looks like you finds were well worth the trip!!!

Thanks, Ty and Crusader! That's very cool. My wife guessed it right. Any time I find something pertaining to the fairer sex, she's always spot on!

The info and pics are much appreciated!

Cheers and HH,
Brendan

 

[BuckleBoy]

Forgot, whatzit2 is a watch winder for a fob watch (maybe late Victorian), missing its loop which attached to a chain

That is EXACTLY what it is. I found one when I had just started the hobby, and I think it got thrown away because I didn't know what it was. Nice find!


Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[Brendan M.]

Nice digs!! The brass chain is a Civil War era bit chain.. standard Union issue.. I have bits a pieces of them from different camps but none intact.. very nice...

MonkeyBoy

The chain is a curb chain from a horse's bridle, hooks to either side of the bit and runs under the horse's chin.

Thanks, MonkeyBoy and kldrawdy! I wouldn't have guessed that. Neat! It was only about an inch or two down, no less...

Much appreciated!

Cheers and HH,
Brendan

 

[Brendan M.]

Forgot, whatzit2 is a watch winder for a fob watch (maybe late Victorian), missing its loop which attached to a chain

Thanks to Crusader, Bookfisher, and BuckleBoy for yet another round of excellent IDing. I KNEW I could count on you guys!

Hopefully I can return the favor sometime soon.

Cheers and HH,
Brendan

 

[Brendan M.]

Some neat old finds "B".
Those two items in you first picture next to the musketball look like masonary anchors that you tap into the hole before you screw the bolt in. I could be wrong of course.
I think Ty just posted one of those lipstick tubes too. Very cool.
-MM-

those are cool old finds...

Relics are as good as coins any day!! Nice finds

Awesome!!!

Thanks, Miner, Allen, Evolution, and TreasureFiend. Glad you liked 'em! You gotta love the relics.

It's funny -- almost everything good at this spot seems to read as 5.5 inches down. Every time I get a signal like that my heart skips... fun!

Cheers and HH,
Brendan

 

[Brendan M.]

still looks like a good day any marks on the crotal bell

Yeah can't complain. No marks on the bell I'm afraid. However I've found 6 or so already this year, and I think maybe one had a maker's mark... seems kinda common that they're blank. Have you found any good ones?

Cheers and HH,
B

 

[2pats]

Those are cast lead wadcutter style bullets with the musket ball. They may be fairly recent as I cast these myself for a .38cal. handgun. Check for approx. .357" diameter. HH