Need Help on this one

[ALAMOTX]

I found this by an 1878 house.

I think it might be some sort of musical instrument but want to get yall's opinions.

Thanks

 

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[doublet2a]

Looks like a Jews harp.

Tim

 

[vayank54]

Jews or mouth harp. It had a small piece of metal in the center.

 

[sniffer]

it's a juice harp. I used to have one when I was a kid

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

it's a juice harp. I used to have one when I was a kid

juice? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew's_harp

The Jew's harp, jaw harp, mouth harp, or Ozark harp, trump and juice harp, is thought to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world

 

[Iron Patch]

Yep and the date seems to fit as that's a later one. It's interesting our detecting group of 3 has found many (probably over 25) early jews harps and never one like that. Once our sites get well into the 1800s it's harmonica reeds we dig. Plenty of the later harps are dug in the UK so I'm curious how much more popular the harmonica was in North America. It was developed in Europe but it must have really caught on over here replacing the mouth harps.

Hey Crusader... how often have you dug one of these?

 

[Lucas]

I'm curious how much more popular the harmonica was in North America.

Side note:

Jew's Harps/Trumps were very popular fur trade items in the 18th/19th century. Common item to find in old Indian camps/villages.

 

[CRUSADER]

Yep and the date seems to fit as that's a later one. It's interesting our detecting group of 3 has found many (probably over 25) early jews harps and never one like that. Once our sites get well into the 1800s it's harmonica reeds we dig. Plenty of the later harps are dug in the UK so I'm curious how much more popular the harmonica was in North America. It was developed in Europe but it must have really caught on over here replacing the mouth harps.

Hey Crusader... how often have you dug one of these?

About 1 complete one every 2 years. I gave about 10 or so to a collector & kept 3 or 4, never kept all the broken parts.

 

[Iron Patch]

Yep and the date seems to fit as that's a later one. It's interesting our detecting group of 3 has found many (probably over 25) early jews harps and never one like that. Once our sites get well into the 1800s it's harmonica reeds we dig. Plenty of the later harps are dug in the UK so I'm curious how much more popular the harmonica was in North America. It was developed in Europe but it must have really caught on over here replacing the mouth harps.

Hey Crusader... how often have you dug one of these?

About 1 complete one every 2 years. I gave about 10 or so to a collector & kept 3 or 4, never kept all the broken parts.

That sure isn't many.... what about the early ones? Just my last hunt I found a complete one, and half of one. A fairly common find here being they date perfect with our sites.

 

[CRUSADER]

Yep and the date seems to fit as that's a later one. It's interesting our detecting group of 3 has found many (probably over 25) early jews harps and never one like that. Once our sites get well into the 1800s it's harmonica reeds we dig. Plenty of the later harps are dug in the UK so I'm curious how much more popular the harmonica was in North America. It was developed in Europe but it must have really caught on over here replacing the mouth harps.

Hey Crusader... how often have you dug one of these?

About 1 complete one every 2 years. I gave about 10 or so to a collector & kept 3 or 4, never kept all the broken parts.

That sure isn't many.... what about the early ones? Just my last hunt I found a complete one, and half of one. A fairly common find here being they date perfect with our sites.

They were more common but I'm targetting Roman/Iron Age sites, of which many didn't even continue into the Medieval.

 

[Iron Patch]

Yep and the date seems to fit as that's a later one. It's interesting our detecting group of 3 has found many (probably over 25) early jews harps and never one like that. Once our sites get well into the 1800s it's harmonica reeds we dig. Plenty of the later harps are dug in the UK so I'm curious how much more popular the harmonica was in North America. It was developed in Europe but it must have really caught on over here replacing the mouth harps.

Hey Crusader... how often have you dug one of these?

About 1 complete one every 2 years. I gave about 10 or so to a collector & kept 3 or 4, never kept all the broken parts.

That sure isn't many.... what about the early ones? Just my last hunt I found a complete one, and half of one. A fairly common find here being they date perfect with our sites.

They were more common but I'm targetting Roman/Iron Age sites, of which many didn't even continue into the Medieval.

Yes, I figured that and why I said my sites are the perfect time frame so we expect to find them. The Roman sites here didn't do much for me.

 

[ALAMOTX]

Thanks guys for your help!

 

[bradyboy]

At first glance i would agree with the harp idea.
Buy, we don't have any reference to size it
The metal looks a bit heavy for ones mouth
Uneven metal work for the instrument to work properly
Might consider a cotter pin, pull pin
Brady

 

[bradyboy]

look at this
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,315245.0.html

 

[JCRIII]

I found this by an 1878 house.

I think it might be some sort of musical instrument but want to get yall's opinions.

Thanks

Yep it's a mouth harp. I have my grandfathers!!