Old Homestead Finds – Gold Wedding Ring, Coins & Bells!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Through the research of an 1878 map of my town, I was able to locate the site of an old homestead. Based on the age of the finds, I would say the site ceased to exist sometime in the early 1900’s. I hit the field on Sunday morning after receiving permission last week from the site developer, who will be building a retail mall here. My first find was the Osborn Lockstitch Machine disc; this was followed by the holed Agriculture & Commerce Bas Canada Half Penny, the 1859 Canada LC & the 1913 Canada LC. Then I got an interesting yet solid signal in the 47 – 50 range and out popped a 22K Wedding Band weighting 1.4grams! The makers’ marks inside the band are as follows… Lion or Fox Head, the number ‘22’, a Crown, the letter ‘S’, an Anchor and the letters ‘J W’. I am not an expert on British gold makers’ marks and the marks have quite a lot of wear, so I could very well have misinterpreted the marks. If anyone can assist me in dating the ring, I would greatly appreciate it. After finding the gold ring, I decided it was time to re-grid the 50’ x 50’ in what I like to call the ‘Union Jack Flag’ pattern. This produced the crotal bell, the broken cone shaped bell and the musket ball… the large clay marble was an eyeball find!

Osborn Lockstitch Machine, sold by The Guelph Sewing Machine Co.
The company was also known as Keables, Osborn & Co and Wilie & Osborn. Based in Guelph. Osborn also worked in the USA, notably for the Leader Sewing Machine Company, for whom he held several patents. A lockstitch is the most common mechanical stitch made by a sewing machine. The term "single needle stitching", often found on dress shirt labels, refers to lockstitch.

History of the Sewing Machine Industry of Ontario, 1860-1897
While the history and development of the sewing machine industry in the United States has received considerable attention, very little research has been conducted on the same industry in Canada. In fact, it is not commonly known that Canada even had such an industry. Despite the large number of American sewing machines sold here in the nineteenth century, however, a domestic industry did emerge which produced thousands of machines over a period of thirty years. The industry's development and decline can be measured from 1860 to 1897, a period when fourteen Ontario manufacturers, in business from as few as two to as many as thirty-four years, were producing family or domestic sewing machines. Ontario-manufactured machines were based on exactly the same principles and elements as American machines. There was a trend among Canadian inventors to make additions or alterations to the basic principles; however, no significant new inventions in sewing machine technology were developed here. Stylistically Ontario machines were slightly behind their American competitors, but in quality and workmanship, they were considered to be on a par.

By the mid-1870s, there were clearly too many Ontario sewing machine companies competing for the domestic market and a number of the smaller companies either folded or were absorbed by larger ones. The eventual decline of the industry occurred for a variety of reasons. Changes in Canadian patent requirements resulted in a proliferation of American branch plants on Canadian soil, a factor which seriously threatened Canadian dominance in the home market. Comparatively low tariffs on imports promoted the dumping of American sewing machines into the Canadian market at ruinous prices. In addition, overproduction and the depression of the late 1870s severely damaged the industry. The ultimate result was disaster for the once thriving sewing machine industry of Ontario and one by one, the companies disappeared.

Thanks very much for looking,
David

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nice finds.

Thanks very much Brian, hope you're getting out these days.
Dave

David,

Great set of finds and very interesting post! The gold ring straightened up very nicely, I love the old elongated bell and the sewing machine tag is fantastic. I enjoyed reading what you posted re the sewing machine industry in Canada.

Best, Erik

Thank you for your kind words regarding my post Eric, I try to keep it interesting!
The fact that the ring's 22K, makes it relatively soft and easy to shape... it also helps to have a ring mandrel and a brass jewelers hammer!

Hope you're having a great year my friend,
Dave

Fantastic finds man! Love all the coins!

Thanks for your post IH, best of luck to you and welcome to Tnet!
Dave

 

[johnnyblaze]

Sweet variety there Dave and great pics

~Blaze~

 

[Gridwalker306]

What a good hunt, hopefully you can get back there before they start building. I could tell it was a high karat gold, such a nice yellow colour. Good job, I'd kill to dig an UN SOU!

 

[jwarner51]

What a good hunt, hopefully you can get back there before they start building. I could tell it was a high karat gold, such a nice yellow colour. Good job, I'd kill to dig an UN SOU!

Are they that desirable? (Un sou) A friend of mine found one last week here in the Western U.S.

 

[Gridwalker306]

Are they that desirable? (Un sou) A friend of mine found one last week here in the Western U.S.

They're not worth that much, but I've always thought they were interesting. I live in an area where the settled history only goes back to the 1890's, and a pre-confederation token would make my day. I don't know why but I have always liked them. I always drool over the old, large, crusty coppers people post because I rarely find them haha!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Ok... Gotta ask! HOW did you stretch that ring back out? I've got a silver one I'd love to have round again...

EDIT: HA nevermind:

" I have a ring mandrel/sizing tool that I bought years ago from a jewelry supply store in Toronto for just this purpose."

I see you found the answer you needed Skippy!
I also bought a couple of brass round head jewelers hammers, with a delicate touch they help to reshape your ring without leaving any marks.

Thanks for your post,
Dave

Sweet variety there Dave and great pics

~Blaze~

Thanks Johnny, I appreciate your support bud!

What a good hunt, hopefully you can get back there before they start building. I could tell it was a high karat gold, such a nice yellow colour. Good job, I'd kill to dig an UN SOU!

Thanks very much Mike,
I'll head back there again on Sunday morning to investigate the remaining acre directly behind the old home site.
This is the first Ag & Comm Token I've dug, although I've dug a number of the Un Sou Half & One Penny Tokens.
This type of Lower Canada Montreal token dates from 1837, the fact that it's holed makes it even sweeter in my view.

Coins that were 'holed' were often nailed to the door or the door frame of the home to bring all those who entered good luck.

Are they that desirable? (Un sou) A friend of mine found one last week here in the Western U.S.

Having your buddy find one in the Western US is amazing, just imagine the history behind how that coin made it out there!
There are several variations of these old bank tokens from Quebec, Canada. The most common coin found has the standing figure instead of the bank building.
They come in one sou (un sou) and two sous (deux sous) denominations, which are equivalent to half penny and penny, respectively.
Value-wise, these are low value pieces unless they are in excellent shape. A worn coin is worth $1 US dollar or less. Most average circulated coins are worth around $20.
Values climb into the hundreds of dollars if you can find an uncirculated example.
They're pretty rare to find here in Ontario, but there are a number of variations and some are most rare than others.
The Agriculture & Commerce Token example I found is one of the more rare examples and sells for around $50 online in this condition, even with the hole.
Dave

They're not worth that much, but I've always thought they were interesting. I live in an area where the settled history only goes back to the 1890's, and a pre-confederation token would make my day. I don't know why but I have always liked them. I always drool over the old, large, crusty coppers people post because I rarely find them haha!

They're very interesting though Mike, these coins were originally produced in Britain to stimulate trade in the colonies of Upper & Lower Canada... we're saving history here bud!
Here are two examples of the ones I find the most here in Ontario.
Dave

 

[Gridwalker306]

Back in 2012 I did find an 1844 province of Canada bank token. It was in a spot where I found some old IH cents, but it was also the edge of a 1940's yard, so it could have been a kid drop on his way to show and tell. Who knows.

I agree, these coppers are an interesting part of our history. I hope you find some more at that spot!

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Back in 2012 I did find an 1844 province of Canada bank token. It was in a spot where I found some old IH cents, but it was also the edge of a 1940's yard, so it could have been a kid drop on his way to show and tell. Who knows.

I agree, these coppers are an interesting part of our history. I hope you find some more at that spot!

I'm thinking the first 1837 Un Sou One Penny Token I found back in 2012 was likely a kids coin drop too.
The reason being, I found it on an c.1890 home site along with 6 other LC's all dating to the early 1900's.

Here's a pic of it and of my box of 'best keepers' from the past 5 years.

View attachment 1231410

Thanks buddy!

 

[pl8man]

Sweet finds Dave ! Love that gold !
Glen

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Sweet finds Dave ! Love that gold !
Glen

I knew that gold ring would catch your eye Glen... because you're a ring magnet bud!

Thanks,
Dave