Shipbuilder Token

[McCDig]

Got out this AM to a Baltimore City park and it is relevant that it is near the harbor. Dug 8 wheats; among these 3 with the date 1920 and a 1910. Also dug what looks like the letter "O", but the best find is this token. Despite its rough shape I believe it reads "W. E. WOODALL CO BALTIMORE SHIP BUILDER"; the reverse is likely an end-on image of the floating drydock. Wm. Easley Woodall opened the first drydock in Baltimore in 1874. He died in 1884 and the business closed in 1929. The company both built and re-fitted ships.


William E. Woodall was born in Liverpool, England in 1837, came to the U.S. at the age of 15, and died in 1884.

 

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[creskol]

I must say, I am envious of that token! Fantastic find!

 

[Yak1366]

Very nice finds!!!

 

[McCDig]

Thanks creskol! No date on it and I haven't found a reference that demonstrates the first use and thereby its age.

 

[lairmo]

Cool token!

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Yak1366! Found the token in a higher trash area. It was down 9 inches and when I saw that is was thin and larger than a cent I got to thinking it may be a half cent, but I quickly made out the word "Baltimore". Nice piece of local history.

 

[creskol]

W.M. E. Woodall & Co. Post War Token | Sell Rare Tokens

 

[McCDig]

Thanks lairmo! Just went over it with a toothbrush. Too bad the soil got the best of it.

 

[McCDig]

Excellent creskol! Thanks much for the ID. Do you know what is meant by "Post-War" token; is it a reference to WWI?

 

[creskol]

Excellent creskol! Thanks much for the ID. Do you know what is meant by "Post-War" token; is it a reference to WWI?

Even though it looks like the operations went up to 1929, they date this token at 1870, making it Post Civil War.

I thought this list of the ships he built was pretty interesting: http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/19thcentury/woodall.htm

 

[McCDig]

Interesting that the last recorded on that list is a ship named "Baltimore".

 

[dirtlooter]

amazing token, cool factor off the chart. congrats and great save

 

[Jamie1993]

Cool find Mike. The area we were in is well know for it's ship builders. There is a museum on the main road going into the area dedicated to the industry. Congrats on the token and beating the frozen hill.

 

[Possum]

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Jamie! We sure worked for our lunch today. Glad we each got a relic to take home.

 

[Jamie1993]

You had the best find of the day. It definitely made for a warmer hunt.

 

[thrifty76now]

A GREAT RECOVERY.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks dirtlooter! Used Park 1 mode on the Equinox 600 today. Ground balance was a little weird today but I seemed to be able to hear targets ok.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Randy! Likely not as cold here as out your way, but though our hands were cold early on we did warm up and did find the ground mostly easy to dig.